During this disruptive time, travel will be free for all passengers on the dedicated pink buses connecting Sydenham and Bankstown, known as Southwest Link:
- SW1 (all stops) – Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown.
- SW2 (limited stops) – Sydenham, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown.
- SW3 (limited stops) – Sydenham, Canterbury, Campsie.
Fare-free travel will begin on Monday and continue for the entire conversion period until the projected completion in late 2025. This date is an estimate only, as the program of works is highly complex and could take longer.
Work to bring the new T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown train line into operation in time for the closure was delayed due to now-lifted protected industrial action.
Transport planners are working through the logistics to get the T6 online as soon as possible, and will share further details when available.
Once open, the T6 will give passengers more travel options by connecting Bankstown to Lidcombe Station via Yagoona, Birrong, Regents Park and Berala.
In the interim, while preparatory trackwork is underway, additional fare-free buses will replace trains between Lidcombe and Bankstown. These will be known as the 8T3 All Stops and 8AT3 Express (direct between Bankstown and Lidcombe).
The rest of the T3 line will still be open between Liverpool and the City via Regents Park and Lidcombe.
When the conversion is complete, passengers will have access to a 21st century high-tech metro line with a train every 4 minutes during the peak, along with fully accessible stations and services. Currently there are stations on the T3 that only receive four trains an hour in the peak.
This final section of the metro line will eventually be known as the M1 Northwest & Bankstown Line, completing the transformative 30km alignment between Bankstown and Tallawong.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:
“Make no mistake – this will be a tough time, and I want to thank the tens of thousands of impacted commuters in Canterbury Bankstown and the Inner West for their understanding.
“We recognise there is a lot of complicated information to digest, so I’d encourage people to head to transportnsw.info, or chat to the Transport staff in pink shirts at their local station.
“It’s only fair that we don’t charge you a fare for this disruptive duration, so remember you don’t have to tap your Opal card or device when you get on.
“I want to continue to be very upfront with people – transforming this 130-year-old line for modern metro trains is a complex and difficult task, meaning it could take longer than 12 months.
“It will be worth the wait, as the 6.3 million passengers who’ve used City Metro since it opened can attest. I’m pleased we’re able to move ahead with giving these communities the same benefits.”
Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins said:
“The final T3 conversion will be difficult but worth it.
“While we continue to transform the transport network, there are big changes coming from Monday so we ask commuters to please plan your trip and check your transport apps for updates.
“Transport for NSW has handed out over 22,000 information cards since 18 September, and we have teams on the ground across the T3 corridor to ensure everyone has the information they need to plan their trips, including dates to remember for the upcoming changes.
“We have worked hard to minimise the impacts on passengers, but we do need the community to work with us, and our street teams are on hand to help.
“I’m pleased all bus driver positions have been filled to support the dozens of Southwest Link buses that will run from early in the morning to late at night seven days a week. The timetable aims for a service every 2-4 minutes in the peak.”
