Frequently Asked Questions: Lidcombe and Berala

Q1: What was the CityRail timetable like for Lidcombe and Berala before 2013?

Lidcombe had 2 express train lines to Central (via Western Line and via Olympic Park Line)

Berala had 2 direct train lines to City (via Inner West/Strathfield and via Bankstown).

  • (T1) Western Line trains serviced Lidcombe with express to Central.
  • (T2) Inner West Line trains included an all stations service from Liverpool to City Circle via Regents Park (and Berala).
  • (T3) Bankstown Line trains continued through Lidcombe to City via Strathfield.
  • (T7) Olympic Park trains continued as express to Central via Strathfield.
CityRail train plan for 2012 timetable during AM peak with Inner West Line (Liverpool to City via Regents Park) AND express train on Western Line, and also limited stops trains on South Line (renamed to Leppington Line in 2017). Source: Transport for NSW GIPA
CityRail Map before 2013. Source: CityRail

Q2: What did the 2013 Sydney Trains timetable mean for Lidcombe?

Lidcombe loses the T7 Olympic Park express to Central leaving only the T1 Western Line express.

  • T1 Western Line trains serviced Lidcombe with express to Central.
  • T2 Inner West Line trains (Liverpool via Regents Park) removed from Lidcombe with services terminating at Homebush.
  • T3 Bankstown Line trains no longer continuing to City via Strathfield with services terminating at Lidcombe.
  • T7 Olympic Park trains no longer continuing express to Central via Strathfield with services only returning to Lidcombe.
T2 Inner West Line terminated at Homebush in 2013. T3 Bankstown Line terminating at Lidcombe since 2013. Note: T1 Western Line express trains continued for Lidcombe in the 2013 timetable. Source: Sydney Trains

Q3: Why were (Inner West Line) trains cut from Lidcombe and Berala in 2013?

  • Transport for NSW had announced preliminary planning in 2012 to convert the Bankstown Line (including stations West of Bankstown to Lidcombe and Cabramatta) in Sydney Metro.
  • Transport for NSW introduced the 2013 timetable changes to prepare for the conversion of the Bansktown Line into Sydney Metro without adequately considering the impact to freight trains west of Birrong (at Sefton Junction and Lidcombe).
  • Sydney Trains, Sydney Metro, and freight services cannot share any track corridor as they operate on different systems.
  • Converting the West of Bankstown (to Lidcombe and/or Cabramatta) into Sydney Metro would block freight operations and be negative on the economy.
  • The NSW Government announced the Sydenham to Bankstown conversion into Sydney Metro in 2014 (but not further west to Lidcombe or Cabramatta due to the impact on freight trains).
  • Despite the Sydney Metro Southwest announced as just Sydenham to Bankstown, Transport for NSW did not undo the timetable changes made in 2013 until 2024 following the community campaign to restore the Inner West Line (Liverpool via Regents Park) and the NSW Parliament Inquiry recommendation supporting direct trains to City from the West of Bankstown via Inner West Line.

For more information, please refer to the NSW Parliament Inquiry into Sydenham to Bankstown line conversion (2019) and the Inquiry report (2020) recommending the restoration of the Inner West Line to City Circle for all stations in the West of Bankstown.

2024 Train Plan with restored T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line, T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line, and also showing freight train routes (tumbleweed). If the Sydney Metro Southwest was extended west of Birrong, it would block freight trains at Sefton Junction and also Lidcombe. Transport for NSW failed to account for freight when earmarking the entire Bankstown Line (to Lidcombe/Cabramatta) for Metro in 2012 but only realised in 2014 when it was announced that just Sydenham to Bankstown would be converted into Metro. Source: Transport for NSW GIPA

Q4: What did the 2013 Sydney Trains timetable mean for Berala?

Berala loses the T2 Inner West Line (Liverpool to City via Regents Park).

Berala has just 1 train line to City (being via Bankstown/Sydenham).

  • T1 Western Line trains serviced Lidcombe with express to Central, picking up passengers interchanging from Berala.
  • T2 Inner West Line trains (Liverpool via Regents Park) removed, new interchange at Lidcombe.
  • T3 Bankstown Line trains no longer continuing to City via Strathfield with services terminating at Lidcombe.
  • T3 Bankstown Line with new interchange at Birrong for commuters travelling towards Liverpool.
Sydney Trans 2013 train plan during AM peak with the T2 Inner West Line terminating at Homebush, T3 Bankstown Line terminated at Lidcombe, and express trains on T1 Western Line at Lidcombe (along with T2 South Line limited stops). Source: Transport for NSW GIPA

Q5: What did the 2017 Sydney Trains timetable mean for Lidcombe?

Lidcombe loses the T1 Western Line (express trains removed in peak).

  • T1 Western Line trains no longer serviced Lidcombe (especially during peak), with T2 Inner West Line from Parramatta to City running as near all stations.
  • T2 Inner West Line trains extended from Homebush to Parramatta as all stations train to City Circle replacing T1 Western Line express trains at Lidcombe.
  • T3 Bankstown Line trains since 2013 – 2024 have operated as Liverpool and Lidcombe to City via Bankstown/Sydenham.
On 26 November 2017, Transport for NSW replaced T1 Western Line express trains with slower T2 Line trains from Parramatta to City especially during weekday peak period. Source: Signage at Lidcombe Station in 2017.
Inner West Line from 2017 to 2023. From October 2024 onwards, the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line has been restored on the former Liverpool to City via Regents Park route (2012). Source: CityRail/Sydney Trains
Sydney Trains 2017 train plan (AM peak) with the removal of T1 Western Line express trains for Lidcombe, the introduction of T2 Inner West Line from Parramatta to City as near all stations, and the slowing down of the T2 Leppington Line (via Granville) with more stops added. Source: Transport for NSW GIPA

Q6: What happened in the 2024 Sydney Trains timetable?

  • T1 Western Line express trains continuing to skip Lidcombe (especially during peak) for T2 Inner West Line to run from Parramatta to City as near all stations.
  • T2 Inner West Line trains from Parramatta as near all stations train to City Circle replacing T1 Western Line express trains at Lidcombe.
  • T3 Line is now the Liverpool and Inner West Line with the restoration of former Liverpool to City via Regents Park services restored as limited stops.
  • T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line is the new name of the shuttle train between Lidcombe and Bankstown (former T3 Line).
  • Bankstown to Sydenham stations are closed for conversion into Sydney Metro Southwest, with bus replacing trains from 2024 – 2025 during construction.

Q7: What does the 2024 timetable mean for Lidcombe?

Lidcombe still does not have express trains to Central as services were removed in 2017.

  • T1 Western Line express trains since 2017 have not serviced Lidcombe (especially during peak).
  • T2 Inner West Line from Parramatta to City Circle via Lidcombe running as near all stations service (instead of T1 Western Line trains).
  • T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line now provides Lidcombe with more limited stops services to City Circle.
  • T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line runs as a shuttle (with commuters travelling between Liverpool and Bankstown needing to interchange at Regents Park).

Q8: What does the 2024 timetable mean for Berala?

Berala has the direct train to City via Inner West/Strathfield restored as limited stops.

  • T2 Inner West Line from Parramatta to City Circle via Lidcombe running as near all stations service (instead of T1 Western Line trains).
  • T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line now provides Lidcombe with more limited stops services to City Circle.
  • T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line runs as a shuttle (with commuters travelling between Liverpool and Bankstown needing to interchange at Regents Park).
Sydney Trains 2024 Train Plan with restored T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line (orange) and T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line (brown). Source: Transport for NSW GIPA

Q9: Is the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line (2024) faster than the previous Inner West Line (2012)?

Yes, the 2024 service from Liverpool to City via Regents Park is a limited stops service. The 2012 Inner West Line was an all stops service.

Q10: Could the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line (2024) be an even faster service to City Circle?

Yes, there is capacity on the Sydney Trains Network to further expedite the Liverpool to City via Regents Park train by reducing stops through the Inner West if the T6 Line from Bankstown was restored through Lidcombe to City via Strathfield (2012) as an all stations service. The Sydney Trains Network has capacity for 4 additional trains between Lidcombe and City Circle which could be used by the T6 Line through Lidcombe to City Circle (as all stations) hence the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line could become an even more limited stops (faster) service. 

Q11: Could the T1 Western Line express train be restored to service Lidcombe?

Yes, the Sydney Trains Network has the capacity to enable T1 Western Line trains from Schofields to make an additional stop at Granville and Lidcombe. For more information about the “Schofields” plan to restore express trains for Lidcombe, please visit: https://restoreinnerwestline.org.au/fast-trains-for-granville-lidcombe/

Fast Trains for Granville & Lidcombe

The Schofields Plan (Re-instate T1 Express Trains at Granville and Lidcombe) v1

Q12: What else could be done to restore express trains from Lidcombe (and Pippita) to City?

The rebuilding of Pippita Railway Station on the T7 Olympic Park Line near Parramatta Road (next to the proposed rail trail) would be part of restoring the Lidcombe – Pippita – Olympic Park – Pippita – Strathfield – Redfern – Central express train. The Pippita CityExpress as originally proposed by EcoTransit would be a 19 minute express train from Lidcombe to Central. To learn more about Pippita, please visit: https://restoreinnerwestline.org.au/pippita/