More than 1500 extra services will run on Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink routes under a new timetable set to lunch on November 26.
In what transport and infrastructure minister Andrew Constance called the largest ever increase to train services in the state, Transport for NSW will respond to “unprecedented growth in customer demand for train services over the past few years” with the new services.
The 1500 new weekly services include 750 on weekends.
Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink have begun briefing staff, ahead of a public information campaign which will be launched on October 15. By November 12, trip planning tools will take the new services into account, ahead of the full launch of the new timetable on November 26.
Highlights of the new timetable include a 92% increase in South West Sydney services, a 43% increase in the number of stations receiving a minimum 15-minute service frequency across most of the day, and a more than 40% increase in the number of weekly services stopping at Parramatta.
A 22% service uplift will also be delivered at Penrith Station, and there will be new fast services between Liverpool and the Sydney CBD on the T3 Bankstown line.
Minister Constance said the State Government was anticipating a further 21% growth in demand for train services by 2021.
“The changes are part of our ‘More Trains, More Services’ program, which will boost network capacity with more services, better infrastructure and 24 brand new eight-car trains,” he said.
The aforementioned Sydney Growth Trains will be delivered by Downer, which won the contract in December last year.
Those fast Liverpool via T3 services aren’t really that fast. They are the same time as the via Granville service at 53-56 minutes.