Sydney
Sydney’s highly anticipated driverless metro line officially opened to passengers on Monday, marking a significant advancement in the city’s public transportation. The first train departed from Sydenham station in the inner west at 4:54 a.m. and traveled through a 15.5 km tunnel beneath the central business district and Sydney Harbour, arriving at Chatswood on the north shore at 5:16 a.m.
Despite the early hour, eager commuters began lining up as early as 1 a.m. to experience the inaugural journey. Originally set to launch on August 4, the opening was delayed to ensure safety approvals were met. The new metro line will operate trains every four minutes during peak hours, every five minutes during weekday off-peak times, and every ten minutes at night and on weekends.
The New South Wales (NSW) government anticipates the line will serve up to 250,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing travel time between Sydenham and Barangaroo by 27 minutes.
Construction of the $21.6 billion AUD ($14.4 billion USD) project began in 2017, making it the largest public transport initiative in Australian history. The project includes five new stations and upgraded facilities at Central and Martin Place stations.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen hailed the metro’s opening as a historic event for Sydney. The existing driverless metro line, which launched in 2019, runs 36 km from Tallawong to Chatswood. The final extension, scheduled for completion in 2025, will further connect Sydenham to Bankstown in the south-west.
