Line cuts and stations closures hidden in secret plans for Sydney Trains

The Secret plans for new passenger train lines across Sydney hides several critical devils in the details. T3 Inner West Line: Liverpool via Regents Park services is being cut to just a shuttle between Liverpool and Lidcombe. Former Sydney rail executives including Ron Christie warned in 2015 that 19,000 commuters in the West of Bankstown would be cut off from Sydney would there not be a direct train to City Circle through Lidcombe. Transport for NSW is also disrespecting the recommendation from the NSW Parliament Inquiry into Sydenham-Bankstown line conversion (2019) that all stations in the West of Bankstown be provided with a direct train to City Circle via Lidcombe. 

This is far from a plan for new services, but a renewed attack on Southwest Sydney with the closure of Birrong and Yagoona stations along with the removal of direct services to City from Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, and Carramar. The 9 stations in the West of Bankstown fought to keep our stations open for the past 12 years and the NSW Government can expect a fight on its hands if it proceeds with derailing our services. The proposed conversion of the Cumberland Line into a 3 carriage Metro (unlike the current Metro) and the removal of the Merrylands – Harris Park Y-Link (built with Commonwealth funding) must also be subject to public scrutiny.

Future Network Changes under consideration by Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro

T3 Liverpool to Lidcombe line (no direct service to City Circle for Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar).

T6 Lidcombe to Bankstown line entirely removed (with potential closure of Birrong/Yagoona Station), the Westmead to Kogarah Metro line between Sefton and Bankstown may only have a single relocated intermediary station.

T5 Cumberland Line converted into 3 carriage Metro (potential extension of Western Sydney Airport line), removing Sydney Trains operating between Liverpool - Cabramatta to Lidcombe, and also resulting on the Y-Link between Merrylands - Harris Park being disconnected.

T1 Western Line will continue to not service Lidcombe. No express trains to Central for Lidcombe commuters.

We call on Transport for NSW and the NSW Government to retain the T3 Inner West Line: City to Liverpool via Regents Park, restore Bankstown to City via Lidcombe, and not close existing Sydney Trains stations especially Birrong & Yagoona.

Please write to Transport Minister John Graham, Lynda Voltz (Auburn MP), Jihad Dib (Bankstown MP), David Saliba (Fairfield MP), Charishma Kaliyanda (Liverpool MP), Julia Finn (Granville MP), Cumberland Council, Canterbury-Bankstown Council, Fairfield Council, and Liverpool Council urging for Transport for NSW to not derail our Sydney Trains Network services.

Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, and Carramar to lose direct train to City AGAIN. Birrong & Yagoona to be closed in secret Transport plan.

Sign the petition to Stop the Transport for NSW plans to CUT west of Bankstown trains to City AGAIN and close stations!

https://www.savet3.org/restoreinnerwestline

Update: Lynda Voltz (Auburn MP) has commented that the Transport for NSW proposal is not an adopted position of the NSW Government. We urge Transport Minister John Graham to issue a ministerial direction to Transport for NSW to prohibit the future removal of T3 City to Liverpool via Regents Park and T6 Bankstown to Lidcombe services.