- What is the T1 Western Line?
- What is the T2 Inner West Line?
- What is the T3 Bankstown Line?
- What is the Lidcombe Turnback?
- What is the Homebush Turnback?
- Why was Inner West Line cut at Homebush and Bankstown Line cut at Lidcombe in 2013?
- *Is this true?
- What is the consequence of the train cuts?
- Why restore the Inner West Line (to Liverpool/Bankstown via Regents Park)?
What is the T1 Western Line?
Until 2017: stopped at Lidcombe, Auburn, Granville all day with express trains to City & North Shore.
2017 – Present: replaced by T2 at Lidcombe, Auburn, Granville during peak – no express
What is the T2 Inner West Line?
Until 2013: City to Liverpool (& Bankstown) via Regents Park trains
2013 – 2017: City to Homebush via Strathfield
2017 – 2024: City to Parramatta
October 2024 – Present: T2 Leppington and Inner West Line, T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line (including restored Liverpool to City Circle via Regents Park)
What is the T3 Bankstown Line?
Until 2013: City to Bankstown via Sydenham or Regents Park (Inner West Line), and City to Liverpool
2013 – 2019: City to Bankstown via Sydenham then Lidcombe or Liverpool
October 2024 – Present: Sydenham to Bankstown closed for conversion into Sydney Metro Southwest. T3 line renamed as T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line (including restored Liverpool to City Circle via Regents Park).
Late 2025: Sydney Metro Southwest opens from Sydenham to Bankstown.
Future Transport Strategy (2056): Bankstown to Lidcombe shuttle removed with Birrong and Yagoona Station closed and/or incorporated into new Parramatta to Kogarah line.
What is the Lidcombe Turnback?
Lidcombe Platform 5 built in 2010 and used to park unused trains until 2013.
Since 2013: all T3 Bankstown Line trains end at Lidcombe Platform 5 instead of Platform 3, commuters need to interchange from Platform 5 to Platform 3 for trains to City.
What is the Homebush Turnback?
Homebush Platform 6 tracks rearranged, and new Platform 7 built for continuing trains in 2011.
2013: T2 Inner West Line ending at Homebush (Platform 6) removed Liverpool via Regents Park train.
2017 – Present: some T2 services end at Homebush while many operate from City to Parramatta.
Why was Inner West Line cut at Homebush and Bankstown Line cut at Lidcombe in 2013?
An alleged lack of capacity between Homebush and Lidcombe*
*Is this true?
No. Because in 2017, the T2 Inner West Line was extended to Parramatta without additional tracks being constructed between Homebush and Lidcombe.
Transport for NSW cannot produce any data showing improved reliability on train network as a direct result of cutting the Inner West Line at Homebush & Bankstown Line at Lidcombe. In 2020, Transport for NSW also admitted that the direct train to City via Inner West Line could operate using currently available infrastructure.
What is the consequence of the train cuts?
Liverpool via Regents Park (former Inner West Line) commuters need to interchange at Birrong for a Bankstown Line train to Lidcombe (Platform 5).
Commuters then interchange again from Platform 5 to Platform 3 for trains to the Central (and since 2017, the morning peak is slower with no express trains – travel times increase from 22 to 33mins).
Why restore the Inner West Line (to Liverpool/Bankstown via Regents Park)?
Reduce number of interchanges and overcrowding at Lidcombe & Birrong.
Allow for T1 Western Line (express) trains to stop at Lidcombe, Auburn, Granville.
Keep and restore direct trains to City Circle for 9 (non-Metro) stations west of Bankstown: Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar, Birrong, Yagoona.
