About 55,000 passengers travelled on Sydney’s new extended metro rail line under the harbour in the morning peak on Tuesday, an increase of more than a third on opening day, amid strong commuter flows from north into the central city on driverless trains.
More than 190,000 passengers travelled on the M1 line on Monday when the 15.5-kilometre extension between Chatswood and Sydenham opened after seven years of construction. The figures include the 36-kilometre section between Tallawong and Chatswood, which opened five years ago.
The evening peak between 3pm and 7pm was the busiest on Monday, notching up 71,000 trips, according to government figures.
The new Martin Place metro station is the second-busiest on the new line under the central city.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the metro line’s initial patronage was “very encouraging”, citing the 55,000 passengers who had travelled on it in the five hours to 10am on Tuesday, up from 40,000 in the same period a day earlier.
She said Tuesday – one of the three busiest weekdays – was the big test and only minor teething problems had so far been experienced, including four lifts at the northern entrance to Victoria Cross station in North Sydney causing a bottleneck of school children.
The northern entrance is lift-only access to the station because it is a 45-metre drop from the streets to the platforms.
More than 18,000 passengers passed through the new metro platforms beneath Central Station on Monday, making it the busiest stop on the extended line. The new underground Martin Place metro station followed closely behind as the second busiest.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen on Tuesday, flanked by Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan, left, and Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray.Credit: Nick Moir
One in five passengers on metro trains on Monday had earlier switched at stations from double-deck trains, while 6 per cent – or 11,500 people – on the new trains had interchanged from buses.
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