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Uncertain Future of Public Transport

Auburn

Transport for NSW has unfairly targeted the Auburn Electorate with downgrading of Sydney Trains services.

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Internal Transport for NSW documents show every station in the Auburn Electorate are significantly impacted by timetable changes in 2013, 2017, and again in 2025 when the Sydney Metro Southwest (Sydenham to Bankstown) opens.

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Both Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro have produced plans to replace Sydney Trains with bus or light rail or rideshare in the Auburn Electorate, with stations on the T3 Bankstown Line to be completely closed in the long-term future.

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From the 2023 NSW Election, the Auburn Electorate includes the following parts of the Sydney Trains Network: Auburn, Lidcombe, former Pippita Station, Berala, Regents Park, Sefton Junction, Sefton, Chester Hill, Birrong, Yagoona.

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Olympic Park is now included in the Parramatta Electorate but has also seen the removal of the direct train to Central on weekdays. Prior to 2013, select trains from Lidcombe to Olympic Park continued to Central Station.

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New Sydney Metro services surrounding the Auburn Electorate (such as Sydney Metro West and Sydney Metro Southwest) provide little relief to existing Sydney Trains commuters, and further increases travel times as well as the number of required interchanges to connect with Central, City Circle, Redfern, Strathfield/Inner West, Bankstown, and Liverpool.

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The temporary restoration of the former T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park in 2024/25 is a short-term measure implemented by Transport for NSW in response to community outrage at secret NSW Government plans were presented to the NSW Legislative Council Inquiry into Sydenham - Bankstown line conerversion (2019) showing the immediate closure of stations in the West of Bankstown (Berala - Carramar, and Birrong - Yagoona) once Sydney Metro Southwest opened.

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The WestConnex M4 Motorway (with reintroduced tolls) has also adversely impact the Auburn Electorate with increased traffic congestion on Parramatta Road, Mona Street, and local routes.

 

But the most significant impact of the NSW Government investment in WestConnex is the diversion of funding away from upgrading the T1 Western Line/T2 Inner West Line between Homebush and Granville in 2014/15.

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Transport for NSW abandoned building 2 additional tracks from Homebush - Flemington - Lidcombe - Auburn - Clyde - Granville in favour of WestConnex thus limiting future Sydney Trains Network capacity in Western Sydney.

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Auburn

2017 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T1 Western Line Express Trains to City.

  • Auburn to Central was 25 minutes, now 36 minutes.

  • Removal of Direct Trains to Westmead, Blacktown, and North Sydney.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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Opportunities

  • Restore Express Trains to City, Westmead, Blacktown, and North Sydney.

  • Part of restored/new Parramatta to Bankstown direct train using the existing direct track between Auburn and Berala (western fork of Lidcombe Junction) to reduce interchange at Lidcombe.

Auburn

Lidcombe

2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T7 Olympic Park Line Weekday Trains from Lidcombe to Central via Olympic Park.

  • Removal of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Removal of T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges for commuters from Olympic Park, Bankstown, and Berala - Carramar.

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2017 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T1 Western Line Express Trains to City.

  • Lidcombe to Central was 22 minutes, now 33 minutes.

  • Removal of Direct Trains to Westmead, Blacktown, and North Sydney.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Removal of Lidcombe to City Circle via Bankstown/Sydenham.

  • Introduction of limited T3 Line shuttle between Bankstown and Lidcombe.

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Opportunities

  • Restore T2 Inner West Line: City to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Restore T3 Bankstown Line: City to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services.

Lidcombe
Pippita - Weston Langford.jpg

Pippita Station

Pippita is a former railway station (closed in 1995) located south of Parramatta Road on the current T7 Olympic Park Line.

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Rebuilding Pippita with CityExpress services using existing tracks (currently used only in special events at Olympic Park) would allow for a 19 minute direct train from Lidcombe to Central.

 

From Lidcombe Platform 0 - Pippita (rebuilt) - Olympic Park - Pippita (rebuilt) - Strathfield - Redfern - Central...

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For more information about EcoTransit's Pippita CityExpress and Parramatta Light Rail proposal, visit the EcoTransit website and watch the animated map.

Pippita

Berala

The current Berala Station opened on the Lidcombe - Cabramatta line in 1924 and was known for its 22 minute direct train to City in the 1930s via the Inner West.

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Transport for NSW initially opposed construction of railway infrastructure such as the Kerrs Road overbridge in the 1920s but relented following a community campaign led by Lidcombe Council.

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2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Removal of T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Up to 19,000 commuters including from Berala forced to interchange at Lidcombe Platform 5 for connecting trains to City.

  • 2 Trains Per Hour and 30 minute Service Gaps for most of the day for the Lidcombe - Regents Park and Sefton - Cabramatta commuters.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Temporary restoration of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park (officially misnamed as T3 Bankstown Line).

  • Introduction of limited T3 Line shuttle between Bankstown and Lidcombe.

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Long-Term/Future Transport

  • Berala Station to be closed with bus or light rail or rideshare replacing trains after the 2030s...

  • Rail in the West of Bankstown removed with Sydney Trains branch lines financially unviable due to lack of connections with Central and City Circle.

 

Opportunities

  • Restore T2 Inner West Line: City to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Restore T3 Bankstown Line: City to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services.

  • Include Berala as part of the restored/new Parramatta to Bankstown direct train using the direct track between Auburn and Berala (western fork of Lidcombe Junction).

Berala

Regents Park

The Lidcombe - Cabramatta line opened with the current Regents Park Station in 1924 to relieve overcrowding at Granville and on the T1 Western Line.

 

Schools have been forced to change their bell times to  adapt to the reduced level of train services since 2013.

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2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Removal of T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Up to 19,000 commuters including from Regents Park forced to interchange at Lidcombe Platform 5 for connecting trains to City.

  • 2 Trains Per Hour and 30 minute Service Gaps for most of the day for the Lidcombe - Regents Park and Sefton - Cabramatta commuters.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Temporary restoration of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park (officially misnamed as T3 Bankstown Line).

  • Introduction of limited T3 Line shuttle between Bankstown and Lidcombe.

  • No direct train between Bankstown and Liverpool.

  • Regents Park to be the interchange between the T3 Line branches (City to Liverpool via Regents Park and Bankstown to Lidcombe shuttle).

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Long-Term/Future Transport

  • Regents Park Station to be closed with bus or light rail or rideshare replacing trains after the 2030s...

  • Rail in the West of Bankstown removed with Sydney Trains branch lines financially unviable due to lack of connections with Central and City Circle.

 

Opportunities

  • Restore T2 Inner West Line: City to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Restore T3 Bankstown Line: City to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services.

  • Include Regents Park as part of the restored/new Parramatta to Bankstown direct train using the direct track between Auburn and Berala (western fork of Lidcombe Junction).

Regents Park

Sefton Junction

Transport for NSW refuses to explain the reasons why all 3 sides of the Sefton Junction between Regents Park, Sefton, and Birrong cannot be concurrently operated with Sydney Trains Network passenger services.

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Transport for NSW has announced the operation of City Cricle to Liverpool via Regents Park trains with the T3 Line limited shuttle between Bankstown and Lidcombe, but no direct Bankstown to Liverpool trains in 2024/25 once the Sydney Metro Southwest opens.

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Sydney Metro is also considering an interchange at Sefton Junction if the Metro Southwest is extended into the West of Bankstown area beyond Yagoona/Birrong.

Sefton Junction

Sefton

Sefton Station opened in 1924 with the Southern Sydney Frieght Line opening parrallel to the passenger tracks in 2013.

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2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Up to 19,000 commuters including from Regents Park forced to interchange at Birrong and then Lidcombe Platform 5 for connecting trains to City Circle via Inner West.

  • 2 Trains Per Hour and 30 minute Service Gaps for most of the day for the Lidcombe - Regents Park and Sefton - Cabramatta commuters.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Temporary restoration of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park (officially misnamed as T3 Bankstown Line).

  • No direct train between Bankstown and Liverpool.

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Long Term/Future Transport

  • Sefton Station to be closed with bus or light rail or rideshare replacing trains after the 2030s...

  • Rail in the West of Bankstown removed with Sydney Trains branch lines financially unviable due to lack of connections with Central and City Circle.

  • The Sydney Metro Southwest extension from Bankstown to Liverpool will likely be a new corridor bypassing Sefton.

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Opportunities

  • Restore T2 Inner West Line: City to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services including between Bankstown and Liverpool.

Sefton

Chester Hill

Chester Hill Station opened in 1924 as a station for the town centre, however access has been continually limited by the lack of a lift forcing parents with prams to climb the stairs and preventing persons with a disability from catching the train.

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2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Up to 19,000 commuters including from Chester Hill forced to interchange at Birrong and then Lidcombe Platform 5 for connecting trains to City Circle via Inner West.

  • 2 Trains Per Hour and 30 minute Service Gaps for most of the day for the Lidcombe - Regents Park and Sefton - Cabramatta commuters.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Temporary restoration of T2 Inner West Line: City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park (officially misnamed as T3 Bankstown Line).

  • No direct train between Bankstown and Liverpool.

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Long Term/Future Transport

  • Chester Hill Train Station to be closed with bus or light rail or rideshare replacing trains after the 2030s...

  • Rail in the West of Bankstown removed with Sydney Trains branch lines financially unviable due to lack of connections with Central and City Circle.

  • The Sydney Metro Southwest extension from Bankstown to Liverpool will likely be a new corridor bypassing Chester Hill.

  • The future Parramatta to Kogarah via Bankstown (Metro) line will include an interchange at Chester Hill for local bus services.

  • Property developers are beginning to landbank around Chester Hill ahead of the future Parramatta to Kogarah (Metro) line.

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Opportunities

  • Restore T2 Inner West Line: City to Liverpool via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services including between Bankstown and Liverpool.

  • Save Chester Hill from Over Development.

Chester Hil

Birrong

Birrong Station opened in 1928 but is currently earmarked for closure in the NSW Future Transport Strategy despite providing trains for local high schools.

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2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Up to 19,000 commuters including from Sefton - Carramar forced to interchange at Birrong and then Lidcombe Platform 5 for connecting trains to City Circle via Inner West.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Introduction of limited T3 Line shuttle between Bankstown and Lidcombe.

  • No direct train between Bankstown and Liverpool.

  • Regents Park to be the interchange between the T3 Line branches (City to Liverpool via Regents Park and Bankstown to Lidcombe shuttle).

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Long Term/Future Transport

  • Birrong Station to be closed with bus or light rail or rideshare replacing trains after the 2030s...

  • Rail in the West of Bankstown removed with Sydney Trains branch lines financially unviable due to lack of connections with Central and City Circle.

  • The Sydney Metro Southwest extension from Bankstown to Liverpool and Parramatta to Kogarah via Bankstown (Metro) line will likely be a new corridor bypassing Birrong.

  • Transport for NSW is considering converting Bankstown to Sefton Junction into a dedicated busway.

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Opportunities

  • Restore T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services including between Bankstown and Liverpool.

  • Include Birrong as part of the restored/new Parramatta to Bankstown direct train using the direct track between Auburn and Berala (western fork of Lidcombe Junction).

Birrong

Yagoona

Yagoona Station opened in 1928 and from 2018 has been considered for Metro Southwest as part of the potential extension to Liverpool. Gazzard Park and the Yagoona Community Centre would be acquired for Sydney Metro tunnelling to Liverpool.

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Transport for NSW is currently considering whether to include Yagoona as part of the future Parramatta to Kogarah via Bankstown (Metro) line or to close Yagoona Station in the NSW Future Transport Strategy.

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2013 Timetable Change

  • Removal of T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Removal of T3 Line express train from Yagoona to City Circle during weekday morning peak.

  • Increased Travel Times and Forced Interchanges.

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2024/25 Timetable Change

  • Introduction of limited T3 Line shuttle between Bankstown and Lidcombe.

  • No direct train between Bankstown and Liverpool.

  • Regents Park to be the interchange between the T3 Line branches (City to Liverpool via Regents Park and Bankstown to Lidcombe shuttle).

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Long Term/Future Transport

  • Yagoona Train Station to be closed with bus or light rail or rideshare replacing trains after the 2030s...

  • Rail in the West of Bankstown removed with Sydney Trains branch lines financially unviable due to lack of connections with Central and City Circle.

  • Yagoona may be included in the Sydney Metro Southwest extension from Bankstown to Liverpool or the future Parramatta to Kogarah via Bankstown (Metro) line both resulting in increased property development surrounding the town centre.

  • Transport for NSW is considering converting Bankstown to Sefton Junction into a dedicated busway.

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Opportunities

  • Restore T3 Bankstown Line: City Circle to Bankstown via Regents Park.

  • Save T3 Bankstown Line: Keep Our Stations Open with Sydney Trains Network services including between Bankstown and Liverpool.

  • Include Yagoona as part of the restored/new Parramatta to Bankstown direct train using the direct track between Auburn and Berala (western fork of Lidcombe Junction).

Yagoona

Fight Back Against Cuts to Public Transport

Join our Community Action Group

If you would like to help us, please send an email (with your name, suburb, and phone number) to

info@restoreinnerwestline.org.au

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We also encourage you to contact Transport for NSW and Lynda Voltz (Member for Auburn) asking for the restoration of our Sydney Trains Network services and to keep our stations open in the West of Bankstown.

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