Sydney’s new Metro line attracted an estimated 40,000 passengers by 10am on its first day of operation.
Monday, August 19 was a historic day in Sydney with the long-awaited opening of the Sydney Metro line between Sydenham and Chatswood, completing a line that features 118 services and runs for 51.5km
The paradigm-shifting project, ten years in the making, lays the groundwork for Sydney’s big push into modernity, pulling the city into the future and activating dozens of new neighbourhoods.
Although the Metro was slated to open at the top of this month, final safety checks spurred a last-minute delay, pushing the opening back by a few weeks.
The M1 Metro North West and Bankstown Line first opened in May 2019, running between Tallawong and Chatswood as the first phase of the Sydney Metro Project.
This new line has now brought Sydenham into the fold, necessitating several new Metro stations including Barangaroo, Gadigal and North Sydney’s Victoria Cross.
A reported 900 people queued up the be amongst the first to ride the new Metro line, which had its start at 4:54am from Sydenham Station and included the speedy section that dives under Sydney Harbour.
“Sydney Metro is a city-shaping project, and we have done everything we can to ensure the community can take advantage of this new way of travelling… getting around the city faster than ever before,” said Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray.
As the week rolls on, it’s expected that countless other Sydney residents will be experiencing this game-changing service for the first time. From all reports, it seems the majority are most excited by the prospect of going 100km/h under Sydney Harbour, travelling from Barangaroo to Victoria Cross in North Sydney.
That also means many Sydneysiders and tourists will start to discover the dozens of specially commissioned artworks at these contemporary Metro stations. To give you a preview, Sydney Travel Guide has rounded up some of the best Sydney Metro artworks, from a tunnel of light and sound in Martin Place, to a futuristic sundail at Victoria Cross.
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