Lidcombe & Bankstown Line

Last updated

Lidcombe & Bankstown Line
TfNSW T6 (2024).svg
Lidcombe & Bankstown Line
Overview
Service type Commuter rail service
Locale Sydney, New South Wales
First service19 October 2024;18 days ago (2024-10-19)
Current operator(s) Sydney Trains
Route
Termini Lidcombe
Bankstown
Stops6
Line(s) used
On-board services
Disabled accessYes
Technical
Rolling stock M sets
Timetable number(s)T6

The Lidcombe & Bankstown Line (numbered T6, coloured brown) is a commuter rail service operated by Sydney Trains in Sydney, Australia. The service runs between Lidcombe and Bankstown via the Main Southern railway line and the Bankstown railway line.

Contents

History

Early Regents Park services

The section of the Main Southern railway line used by Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services from Lidcombe to Regents Park opened in 1912 as a spur from the Main Suburban railway line. [1] It became the Main Southern railway line when it was connected through to the Old Main South railway line at Cabramatta in 1924. [2] In a precursor to the current Liverpool & Inner West Line services, this allowed passenger services to use this more direct deviation to reach Liverpool.

Early Bankstown services

Since the 1890s, the Bankstown railway line had been being built westward from the Illawarra railway line at Sydenham. In 1928, the Bankstown railway line reached the Main Southern railway line just south of Regents Park at Sefton Park Junction. [3] Following completion of electrification in 1939, [4] this allowed suburban passenger services to operate a large loop from the City Circle via the Main Suburban railway line, Lidcombe and Regents Park to Bankstown before returning to the City Circle via Sydenham, and vice versa. [5] It also allowed services to begin from Liverpool or Lidcombe and reach the City Circle via Bankstown and Sydenham without using the Main Suburban railway line. [6] Over time, this latter configuration became favoured, due to congestion on the Main Suburban railway line.

T3 Bankstown Line (2013–2024)

Following the 2011 state election, the newly elected O'Farrell government embarked on reform of transport in New South Wales, creating a new organisation, Transport for NSW, in November of that year. This was followed up with another government reform, which saw Sydney Trains take over operation of the Sydney suburban rail network from CityRail in July 2013. [7]

Transport for NSW developed a new rail timetable and branding, which was put into effect on 20 October 2013. [8] This saw the launch of T3 Bankstown Line services, which operated from the City Circle to Bankstown via Sydenham, then terminated at either Lidcombe or Liverpool.

The 2013 timetable was designed to integrate the projects of the Rail Clearways Program, a 2004 plan to divide the network's fourteen metropolitan rail lines into five independent "clearways" by installing extra tracks, passing loops, turnouts and turnbacks at pinch points around the network, such as at Homebush and Lidcombe. By 2013, the Rail Clearways Program was substantially complete. [9]

T3 Bankstown Line services utilised the new turnback at Lidcombe, reducing bottlenecking on the Main Suburban railway line. However, the changes attracted criticism due to the increased number of interchanges and increased travel time for passengers from stations west of Bankstown. [10] [11] [12]

T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line (from 2024)

In 2020, Transport for NSW sought public feedback on how to service stations west of Bankstown from 2024 onwards, in preparation for the closure of the Bankstown railway line east of Bankstown as part of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project. [13] Three options were considered, these being:

The second option was supported by 85% of respondents and preferred by Transport for NSW. [13] However, the loss of direct service from the City Circle to Birrong and Yagoona concerned some local advocacy groups and representatives. [14] [15] [16]

The planned closure of the Sydenham to Bankstown section of the Bankstown railway line occurred on 30 September 2024. [17] Consequently, T3 Bankstown Line services were withdrawn, and in line with the consultation outcome two new services were introduced for the remaining Sydney Trains stations east of Bankstown, these being:

However, work to introduce the new T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services was briefly delayed due to industrial action. [20] After three weeks of bustitution, the new train service began in mid-October 2024. [21]

Operation

Route

Shuttle services run only between Lidcombe and Bankstown. T6 Sydney Trains diagram.png
Shuttle services run only between Lidcombe and Bankstown.

T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services begin at Lidcombe on the Main Suburban railway line. After leaving Lidcombe, T6 services use the Main Southern railway line to travel through Berala and Regents Park. South of Regents Park at Sefton Park Junction, T6 services branch off from the Main Southern, and use the Bankstown railway line via Birrong and Yagoona to complete their journey to Bankstown.

NameDistance from

Central [3] [1]

Opened [3] [1] Railway lineServing suburbsOther lines
Bankstown 18.7 km1909 Bankstown Bankstown (from 2025)
Yagoona 20.6 km1928Yagoonanone
Birrong 22.1 km1928Birrong
Regents Park 19.9 km1912 Main South Regents Park
T3
Berala 18.4 km1912Berala
Lidcombe 16.6 km1858Lidcombe
T1
T2
T3
T7

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Trains M set</span> Class of electric train operating in Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Trains M sets, also referred to as the Millennium trains, are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) that operate on the Sydney Trains network. Built by EDi Rail between 2002 and 2005, the first sets initially entered service under the CityRail brand on 1 July 2002 after short delays due to electrical defects. The M sets were built as "fourth generation" trains for Sydney's suburban rail fleet, replacing the 1960s Tulloch carriages and providing extra capacity on the suburban rail network. The sets currently operate on the T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West, T5 Cumberland, T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown, T7 Olympic Park and T8 Airport & South lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail Clearways Program</span> Australian railway infrastructure project

The Rail Clearways Programme was conceived in 2004 with the aim of easing congestion of Sydney's suburban railway network, by reducing the amount of infrastructure shared by multiple services. The disparate projects at pinch points throughout the network were designed to increase passenger capacity and improve reliability. All projects were delivered by the Transport Construction Authority until it was subsumed in November 2011 by Transport for New South Wales. A new timetable was introduced in October 2013 that realised the benefit of many of the projects, and by January 2014—the programme was complete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sefton railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sefton railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Main Southern railway line in the Sydney suburb of Sefton. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester Hill railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Chester Hill railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Main Southern railway line in the Sydney suburb of Chester Hill. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bankstown railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales

Bankstown railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Bankstown railway line in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown. It is currently the southern terminus of T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown services, and will in future be the southwestern terminus of M1 Metro North West & Bankstown services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lidcombe railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Lidcombe railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Main Suburban line, serving the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western, T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line, T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line and T7 Olympic line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villawood railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Villawood railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Main Southern railway line in the Sydney suburb of Villawood. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carramar railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Carramar railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Main Southern railway line in the Sydney suburb of Carramar. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leightonfield railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Leightonfield railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Main Southern railway line in the Sydney suburb of Villawood. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birrong railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Birrong railway station is located on the Bankstown line, serving the Sydney suburb of Birrong. It is served by Sydney Trains T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berala railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Berala railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Main Southern line, serving the Sydney suburb of Berala. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line and T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yagoona railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Yagoona railway station is a station serving the Sydney suburb of Yagoona. It is served by Sydney Trains T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmore railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Belmore railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Bankstown railway line in the Sydney suburb of Belmore. It is currently closed for conversion works to enable it to be served by Metro North West & Bankstown Line services in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regents Park railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Regents Park railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Main Southern line, serving the Sydney suburb of Regents Park. The station is heritage-listed in the state heritage register for New South Wales. It is served by Sydney Trains T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line and T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Trains</span> Operator of passenger rail services in metropolitan Sydney

Sydney Trains is the brand name and operator of suburban and intercity train services centring on Greater Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leppington & Inner West Line</span> Rail service in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Leppington & Inner West Line is a commuter rail service operated by Sydney Trains, serving the inner west and south-western regions of Sydney, Australia. Consisting of 37 stops, the service commences from the City Circle, then heads west to Granville. The line branches at this point; services either head northwest to Parramatta or south to Leppington. A third terminus at Homebush is used when the part-time Parramatta branch is not operating. The line commenced operations on 26 November 2017, replacing the T2 Airport, Inner West & South Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bankstown railway line</span> Railway line in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Bankstown railway line is a suburban railway which traverses the Inner West and Canterbury-Bankstown areas of Sydney. West of Bankstown it is used by T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown services, while east of Bankstown it is temporarily closed to facilitate conversion for its future use by M1 North West & Bankstown services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Park railway line</span> Railway line in Sydney, Australia

The Olympic Park railway line is a railway line linking the Sydney Olympic Park precinct to the Main Suburban railway line at Flemington and Lidcombe. Originally opened as the Abattoirs branch in 1911, it was rebuilt and reopened as the Olympic Park railway line in 1998. Passenger services have since been running on it as the Olympic Park Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Metro City & Southwest</span> Rapid transit project in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Metro City & Southwest is a 30-kilometre (19 mi) rapid transit construction project in Sydney, Australia. The project will extend the Metro North West & Bankstown Line from Chatswood on the North Shore, to Bankstown in the city's southwest via the Sydney central business district. The line is part of the Sydney Metro system. Its first phase, Sydney Metro City, opened on 19 August 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool & Inner West Line</span> Rail service in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Liverpool & Inner West Line is a commuter rail service operated by Sydney Trains in the Inner West and Western suburbs of Sydney. It operates from the City Circle to Liverpool via the Main Suburban railway line to Lidcombe and the Main Southern railway line from there to Liverpool.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lidcombe-Cabramatta line". NSWrail.net. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  2. ↑ "Opening of the Regents Park line, Cabramatta Railway Station". Fairfield City Heritage Collection. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bankstown line". NSWrail.net. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  4. ↑ "Sydney Electric Trains From 1926 to 1960". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin . No. 762. April 2001.
  5. ↑ Booth, Cameron (5 July 2014). "Historical Map: Sydney Rail Network, Early 1980s". Transit Maps.
  6. ↑ RailCorp (June 2008). "CityRail network map". Data.NSW. NSW Government . Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob (1 July 2013). "All change as RailCorp is disbanded". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Transport for NSW. "October 2013 timetable changes". NSW Government . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Transport for NSW (15 August 2014). "Rail Clearways Program – completed projects". NSW Government. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob; Carroll, Lucy; Bodkin, Ed (21 October 2013). "New train timetable had a smooth start but not all commuters are happy". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  11. ↑ Khalil, Shireen (14 January 2015). "Roydon Ng isn't giving up on his year-long campaign to restore the Inner West line". Inner West Courier . Archived from the original on 13 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Beech, James (30 March 2015). "NSW Election 2015: Tania Mihailuk saves Bankstown for Labor and vows to fight state privatisation". Canterbury-Bankstown Express . Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  13. 1 2 Transport for NSW (December 2020). "West of Bankstown rail services in 2024". NSW Government . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  14. ↑ Tania Mihailuk, MP (16 February 2021). "5138 - Access to City Circle from Birrong and Yagoona". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  15. ↑ RestoreInnerWestLine (5 February 2023). "Statement regarding Sydney Metro plans to close Birrong, Yagoona, and Olympic Park stations". Restore Inner West Line: Liverpool via Regents Park. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "Rail Options for Future of Birrong and Yagoona". SaveT3. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  17. ↑ Hathaway-Wilson, Joseph (27 September 2024). "What you need to know about the T3 Sydenham to Bankstown train stations closure". ABC News . Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  18. ↑ Transport for NSW (October 2024). "Train and bus timetable changes FAQs: 2024 train and bus timetable" (PDF). NSW Government . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  19. ↑ Transport for NSW. "Southwest Link". transportnsw.info. NSW Government . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  20. ↑ Pittorino, Jennifer (30 September 2024). "T3 Bankstown line closed for works". Rail Express . Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  21. ↑ Transport for NSW (18 October 2024). "Reminder to plan ahead: New train timetable starts Sunday" (Press release). NSW Government . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.