West of Bankstown commuters gathered in Regents Park to celebrate the new Sydney Trains timetable feature of the much anticipated T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line. The restoration of the Inner West Line from City Circle to Liverpool via Regents Park marks the successful community campaign of 19,000 commuters in Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar, Birrong and Yagoona.
The removal of Inner West Line services from Liverpool (and Bankstown) via Regents Park in the 2013 timetable significantly increased the number of forced interchanges and also worsened transport disadvantage for Cumberland and Canterbury-Bankstown residents. With the support of local Members of Parliament in Auburn, Bankstown, Fairfield, Cabramatta, and Liverpool and also the Councils of Strathfield Auburn Cumberland Canterbury Bankstown Council and Liverpool; we are delighted that 7 of the 9 stations in the West of Bankstown now have a direct train to City Circle and the Inner West.
Without the restoration of the Inner West Line: Liverpool via Regents Park, commuters faced interchanges at Birrong, Lidcombe and also at Strathfield; but now the new T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line which commenced on 30 September 2024 significantly reduces travel times for the West of Bankstown area.
The Restore Inner West Line & Save T3 Bankstown Line community action group formed in 2013 as a collective of local residents and commuters also thanks the current NSW Government for its commitment to keeping Sydney Trains stations in the West of Bankstown area open. Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro had undertaken planning to permanently close train stations in the West of Bankstown area with bus or ride-share to replace all train services once Sydney Metro Southwest (Sydenham to Bankstown) opened in 2025.
The public transport meeting held on 19 October 2024 in Regents Park Community Hall also coincides with the centenary celebrations of the Lidcombe to Cabramatta railway with attendees calling for permanent and high frequency Sydney Trains Network services to City Circle, Inner West, Liverpool, Bankstown, and Parramatta. Commuters also expressed a need for improved service frequency of the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line, T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line (for Birrong and Yagoona), and T1 Western Line (at Lidcombe) with the fast-tracking of digital signalling upgrades.
Keynote speakers at the Restore Inner West Line community meeting included: Member for Auburn Lynda Voltz, Cumberland Councillor Enver Yasar, former Auburn Councillor Tony Oldfield (The Battler), EcoTransit advocate Colin Schroeder, and campaign organiser Roydon Ng (Berala commuter).
With the Inner West Line: Liverpool via Regents Park now restored, the public transport campaign in the West of Bankstown will continue to advocate for the Sydney Trains Network on all 3 sides of Sefton Junction (Bankstown to City via Regents Park as extension of the T6 Line, Liverpool to Bankstown shuttle, and maintaining the Liverpool to City via Regents Park service) and also improved services on all 3 sides of Lidcombe Junction (signalling upgrades to enable bi-directional peak services between Bankstown and Parramatta, more express trains for Lidcombe, and improved stopping patterns for the Liverpool to City via Regents Park service).
Quotes attributable to Roydon Ng (Convenor, Restore Inner West Line)
“Thanks for your support since 2013 to bring back our direct trains to City Circle, Liverpool, and Inner West”
“Internal Transport for NSW documents prove capacity exists for the direct train to City from West of Bankstown”
“T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line is the achievement of 19,000 commuters NOT Sydney Metro”
“Celebrating the centenary of the Lidcombe to Cabramatta railway with the restored Inner West Line is fabulous”
“Digital signalling upgrades should be fast-tracked as high priority rail infrastructure”
Photos/video and more information available below:
Live Stream recording available at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2685217851685640
