The Sydney Metro has been a huge success. So...what's next?

The Sydney Metro and its most recent extension to Sydney CBD has been a hugely successful project, reporting strong patronage and high customer satisfaction. In this video, I'll perform a retrospective on the Sydney Metro; what was done right, what was done wrong, and how the Sydney Metro has changed Sydney. More importantly, we’ll discuss upcoming projects, and finally, what the government should be building next.
Check out an extended cut of my adventure down to the future Hunter Street Station platforms here: • Sneak peek at the futu...
Did you enjoy this video? Check out more videos about the Sydney Metro here: • "Sydney Metro" Series
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Links:
Google Sheets containing the patronage data that I cited throughout the video: docs.google.co...
SMH article about rezoning Kellyville and Bella Vista: www.smh.com.au...
NSW Planning Site about Kellyville and Bella Vista: www.planning.n...
Michelle Rowland is a NIMBY: www.smh.com.au...
SMH article about the secret report into possible future metro lines: www.smh.com.au...
Corridor reserved for future metro line through Marsden Park: www.planningpo...
Housing commisioner suggesting we spend less on the metro: www.smh.com.au...
Music:
Rush by Nikistan
Dat Groove by Audionautix
Crimson Fly by Huma-Huma
Time Dust by Schematist
Dollars by Soundroll
Time There Was by CineMedia
Energetic 80s Synthwave by CineMedia
VHS Dreams by Shane Ivers

[@BuildingBeautifully]

Thanks for watching everyone! Do check out the extended cut of my adventures down to the Hunter Street Metro Platforms here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqfaiGaAi7ujnLs. And while you're there, be sure to subscribe to Building Beautifully Extra. I'm planning to use that channel more this year.

[@DarrenTaing]

An orbital line is something we've been sorely missing for so long. I live in the inner west and barely ever travel to South Sydney because it would take over an hour to get there on public transport.

[@Technoriety]

@@DarrenTaing The original vision of the Sydney Metro was as an orbital. Tallowong would be extended to St Marys and on to the new airport as a continuous line. Heading south the line would extend from the airport to Liverpool, and then through a tunnel to connect with Bankstown, completing the circle. Advantages: Travel from the new airport to the city without transferring. Transfers add extra stress to international travellers arriving at the new airport. The proposed wider airport line carriages are useless, as passengers have to transfer at St Marys, joining a second rail network they're not familiar with. Having the airport metro as a separate isolated line is an absolutely harebrained idea.

[@jirskyrjenkins1959]

I used to live at Kingsgrove and it was an epic chore to travel to Parramatta or Homebush via rail. You could drive it in 20-30 mins but it takes 3-4x longer via rail. There's no direct bus and the Special Events buses also take 50 mins because they snake all over the place for maximum pickups. Never understood why Sydney doesn't have an internal N-S line anywhere in the network, only on the edges.

[@RamonKeller-lc5qh]

Better buses is the solution. Especially highway buses on useless highways like westconnex and northconnex. As fast as a train, no new dedicated lanes or stations, so cheaper. Orbital line is a waste of money and if ever built should be in like 2100.

[@ray2208aus]

I Agree this should all have been existing heavy rail from leppington to the airport and onto st Marys. This could gave created a loop service via Parramatta and Liverpool. Then a 2nd service would run Western airport to city via glenfield and Sydney airport

[@JayJayGamerOfficial]

I agree with this, as someone living close to Miranda that often travels to Olympic park and used to travel to Campbelltown frequently (still do but just to visit family) and I can safely say all of my trips would be so much shorter if there was a line between Sutherland/hurstville and Parramatta. Sutherland would be my personal pick as it is located further away and a proposed line would have a stop in Menai and link up at Revesby easily whereas Hurstville is only 20 minutes away from Revesby not taking into account wait times. It would cut down a sutherland-Campbelltown trip from 30 minutes to under 10 minutes as well as a sutherland-Parramatta trip from 60 or so minutes to 20 or so minutes. This would also help south coast commuters get to western Sydney as the only real viable trip at the moment is a hour long bus ride from Wollongong station to Campbelltown station.

[@videowilliams]

Wow, your enthusiasm for turning Sydney into a railway city is infectious, and your meta-view of the network makes my head spin in a good way.

[@AheadMatthewawsome]

Great video, Sharath! It was so cool seeing inside Hunter Street Station! Metro West is gonna be just as transformative as the M1!

[@TransitSydney]

As a commuter from Hurstville, the Hurstville to Parra analogy was perfect. it's the exact same if someone from Hurstville wants to travel to Liverpool or to western Sydney where driving is just the better option. Before metro stage 2, travel to Epping or Chatswood required driving through the heavily congested King Georges Road, and I believe a metro corridor linking Strathfield to Hurstville would heavily ease congestion on this road. If you've ever driven on it past Flemington, you'll know what I mean!

[@Whatsuppbuddies]

Are you really a hurstville commuter if you're not dictating this message into your phone on the train

[@CaratsRitzy]

Aya, you don't have to be from Hurstville to hear someone's loud boom box or obnoxious Tiktok AI-brainrot reposts blaring from the other carriage. Telling the oldies to use earphones is like stopping a 5 year old's repetitive 5min craft reel. Doesn't matter where you from, we all got problems we can't fix.

[@tasmaniantaswegian]

Finally, he's back! Sydney Metro is definitely a successful project, glad to see it being acknowledged more and more.

[@Gribbo9999]

As someone who lives between Schofields and Tallawong stations, the glaring gap looks so obvious. Even the land is open and available. An elevated rail along Schofields road and South Street on to Marsden Park and beyond seems like such no brainer. It seems like such an unfortunate wasted opportunity that it wasn't built in Metro phase1.

[@_peepyopee]

North westies don't want all those housos from mt druitt coming into the area

[@janesk1]

@@_peepyopee and yet frequent bus connections exist. All it is is a major inconvenience for everyone.

[@andrewrollason4963]

@@janesk1 "frequent" is worse than half an hour after 7pm.

[@kiriakoz]

I love this guy. This is a topic I'm only mildly interested in and yet I enjoy his videos so much due to his passion.

[@azzahnoble]

When I use public transport, it’s because I don’t want to drive (don’t want to think about parking, plan on drinking, etc). Thankfully I live pretty close to buses that are decently frequent, but I can’t imagine having to drive to catch the train. Defeats the purpose of catching the train for me.

[@josiahhosking3211]

Absolutely agree with you Sharath, perhaps you should be the Minister of Public Transport for NSW. The government should be building a Metro for Sydney that goes around starting from South Sydney and to the West of Sydney then through Parramatta CITY then North West and through to the North of Sydney to better connect all suburban Train Line to Metro line for interchange and inter connecting line services so that people don’t have to travel to Sydney CBD then out to the west when they can travel across and around. Thanks Sharath please do convince the government to listen. That will cost time. That will benefit everyone. ❤👋💚👏😎🇦🇺

[@renegade7032]

"Babe wake up, Building Beautifully just uploaded a new video"

[@DanielSchramm]

The station distance topic is a good one. For the longer lines, it makes sense to have the stops less frequent further out so the overall journey time isn't too slow, with stops closer together in the central area.

[@mark123655]

Agreed. Also if note is that Sydney's density (beyond a few specific areas) is way lower than most cities with a comparable rail network

[@carisi2k11]

Remember that Sydenham is getting a boost because of the train replacement buses. Once the metro is completed and operating those numbers are likely to fill out across the bankstown line stations.

[@BigBlueMan118]

I would still imagine Sydenham to be up significantly on its pre-C&SW Metro numbers, and I would expect the Bankstown line stations to go up significantly due to the much faster and more frequent service.

[@mike-williams]

We also need more frequent bus connections to Metro stops. It's useless having a Metro every 4 minutes but the buses still only run every 20-30 minutes. Sydenham I'm looking at you - an orbital bus to Victoria Rd would help join to multiple bus services.

[@BigBlueMan118]

Well you do already have the 410, which runs every 15min from Hurstville-Bexley North-Campsie-Burwood-Rhodes-Victoria Road-Top Ryde-Macquarie Park. That is kind of what you are talking about.

[@mike-williams]

​@@BigBlueMan118wrong Victoria Rd

[@BigBlueMan118]

@mike-williams oh you're talking about Marrickville Vic Rd? I mean sure Im with you but I doubt that would have all that much impact.

[@mike-williams]

@@BigBlueMan118 The 430 bus that connects to the Marrickville side of Sydneham station has seen a huge jump in ridership but it's infrequent, cuts off early in day and is awkward to get to from the Metro (you have to walk up a hill and find it hidden across a road.) If there was a bus looping from the station around to Victoria Rd and perhaps up to Addison Rd then it would connect with the 423, 426, 428 and 355 buses to properly extend the catchment area. There's also the safety issue of walking through dark streets of Sydenham to and from evening Metro journeys. I'm sure there's a lot of other areas benefiting from local loop buses that would connect people to amenities (especially the elderly, infirm and socially isolated), and perhaps staunch the dumping of shopping trolleys on streets for kilometres around shopping centres. I've suggested as such to my council but ..."crickets".

[@Egg-mr7np]

A safe bike route off in each direction would be better. The bike rack gets full already and that’s with no bike connections.

[@michaelkeogh7722]

One thought I had was incorporating bus T-ways with light rail. A tram running on the T80 from Liverpool to Parramatta would be amazing. It doesn’t have to be tram exclusive either. Stops and right-of-way could be shared with local bus routes. I’m sue similar T-ways around Sydney could benefit from such a system too.

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

One of your best videos, Sharath! Lots of very valid points and suggestions.

[@wavecentral]

Great video - love the inclusion of the entry/exit stats - I wish more transport videos did this.

[@inaozzi5128]

Hey Sharath, very well produced video. A lot of work ! I use the metro more than I really have to because I can explore new places. You are better connected than most of us. Please ask them to increase the weekend metro services from 10 minutes to 8 minutes during school holidays. That’s when so many families and kids crowd into the metro. It’s incredible, yet too overcrowded on weekends during the holidays. They need to definitely increase the frequency. Keep making these great videos.

[@HappyDays-nk7iq]

Great video! You made an excellent point about station spacing and car-dependency and car-parking. The tighter the station spacing, the more walkable it is to the station, the less need to drive to the station and have station car parking. The wider the station spacing, the less walkable it is to the train station, the greater the need to drive to the train station and more demand for gigantic car parking lots next to the train station.

[@charliez7130]

Yet another fantastic video - great work!

[@jake20419]

7:26 This is a similar problem at North Ryde station, which is the closest rail station to areas like Gladesville, Hunters Hill and the general Ryde area, with only a single bus route present at the station that runs from Top Ryde to Chatswood every 30 mins. The area the station currently serves is quite small given the need to cross Epping road to get to it from the suburban area, which is demonstrated in its evidently low patronage.

[@jake20419]

While i do understand that these suburbs already have a consistent bus link to the city, getting from anywhere in that area to Chatswood, the hills or north sydney via PT sucks…

[@ollie2074]

And that station doesn’t have much parking either making it even more useless, not that there’s anywhere to build a car park, but more busses and new routes to north ryde would be great

[@Senstraizaa]

Such a good breakdown of stats for the recently opened stations as well as discussing reasoning for the 2024 metro videos. Can't wait to see more content talking on the true future of Sydney Metro.

[@paulw4090]

Possible correction in an otherwise interesting, excellent and thought provoking video. Melbourne did previosly have orbital railways. In the early 1890s. The inner circle line and the Outer Circle Line - the chief engineer of the later was a young (not yet graduated - he still needed to pass a latin exam and other things to graduate) engineer called John Monash - you may have heard of him ;-)

[@antontsau]

When Monash planned all this - cars did not exist yet.

[@jaysemitchells497]

I love the metro from Barangaroo to town hall, so useful! Also everyone looking at you when you're filming was so funny

[@DoubleHelixMicky]

Great information shared. Agree, we need to find a way to support infrastructure building and homes, not one at the expense of the other.

[@micwallace]

Happy new year Sarath! Long live the metro!! I love riding up the front!!!

[@stannislas]

Very good video! few points like to add to the current Sydney Metro. 1. Barangaroo Station - at least for now, the vast majority of users are commuters. If the exit wasn’t so far, or if it didn’t take 10 minutes just to walk to "Barangaroo," there would be a lot more people using it. 2.it is shocking that even though it has only been open for a few months, the tracks between Epping to Cherrybrook and MQU are so bumpy. This is a brand-new metro, not a railway that hasn’t been maintained for 100 years! 3. completely agree with Issue 2. In fact, the 626 isn’t even the worst. For example, the 635 runs only once an hour during off-peak times. This means that if you arrive at Cherrybrook Station just as the 635 leaves in front of you, the only options are either spending over half an hour walking home or paying more than $15 for an Uber. 4. still at Cherrybrook Station, my neighbor told me that the parking lot is always full before 7 AM… So basically, there is no option.

[@rednaughtstudios]

Re 1. Barangaroo Station is also a 8-10min walk from the Arts precinct wharfs so it's serving both commuters to the south and cast, crew and audiences of venues and also the park to the north.

[@daveg2104]

And also regarding Barangaroo. When Barangaroo Central is developed, there will be a connection from the platform gate concourse through that development. So it won't seem so isolated.

[@John-p7i5g]

Should be a stop at Pennant Hills Rd / Thomson's corner. With a huge car park!

[@kenoliver8913]

I think it is absolutely bizarre that there is no intention of ever linking heavy rail to the new airport. Not just for passengers - you've convinced me that light rail (metro) links are sometimes better for these - but for FREIGHT. The new airport's biggest business in early decades will be freight, for which it is much better located than Mascot and will also benefit greatly from no curfew. Residents in these new suburbs will have a noise problem alright - not from planes but from B-Double trucks.

[@willbot2145]

Always an amazing day when Sharath uploads!! :D

[@sabharinathb1981]

Missed your informative videos mate! Welcome back and look forward to more to come in 2025!

[@gkavner]

The lower north shore has two separate rail networks. Parramatta will have two separate rail networks. Not to mention ferries to both, and direct to CBD buses. Is there something about the NSW electorate of Maroubra, and specifically my area at Eastgardens that makes transport planners alergic to giving us, well, anything? I've used the CBD metro twice since opening. It's of little relevance to me. I'm stuck with the rubbish buses out here (I live 30 mins walk from Juniors L3 stop). Since the L3 opened all our direct-to-city buses were axed. As well as the much missed 400 bus.

[@deluxxxedriver4420]

new year new building beautifully video LETS GO

[@spectra1037]

Epping to parramatta is something i would love too see. The 2 cities are so close, but the only way to get there by train is going all the way around making the trip like an hour long.

[@yesbeautyfly]

Did you take bus?

[@ChristianWiley-cf8gx]

Completely agree about the orbital line that connects to the radial lines. RM transit has a great video explaining why orbital/circumferential lines in other cities have been so successful. In Sydney I think such a line would benefit our smaller CBDs, uni students and access to health facilities.

[@mh2327]

Great video! Keep up the excellent work.

[@piddlingtuna]

Is there any explanation for the particularly large gap between Waterloo and Sydenham? A station in Alexandra/Sydney Park would have been awesome.

[@Gdsamplify]

Personal reasons

[@fjeoijweiojfweio8212]

yeah, i didnt want it there

[@Beeblebrox6868]

It's true - a station at the corner of Sydney Park would have been a very good idea. I think it came down to cost in the end. One original proposal didn't even have a stop at Waterloo. That was strongly argued for as it would be the key to redeveloping the entire precinct, so the cost there was justified. The cost for a second stop was considered too great - it could have added $600-800 million more.

[@tacitdionysus3220]

Probably because there are existing stations (with at least one likely within walking distance of any point) that already service that area - namely Green Square, Erskineville and St Peters. Those stations also have plenty of spare capacity, so no need for a metro station to provide relief, like Gadigal does for Town hall. Also multiple and frequent bus routes in that area.

[@cloudcap-nv4cz]

Chris Minns' wife lives there.

[@Jimmysgyros]

Another awesome video Love your work As you said, it’s far from perfect And is so new hey But such a game changer Keep up the awesome work sir ! 🙏🏼🤗

[@Onlyme.n.u]

How about a new metro line from Chatswood to Northern Beaches area such as Manly, Dee Why and Narrabeen?

[@yesbeautyfly]

The once existed tram to Northern Beaches incl Manly was dismantled in last century, so as the tram for Watson Bay & etc.

[@thetflthree]

I’m absolutely gutted I missed the Sydney Metro extension opening when I visited last year, but I’m glad that Sydney has so much real and forward looking public transport investment on the horizon, and I hope I can experience some of it for myself soon! ~ Daniel

[@Rheilffordd]

I’m liking this video, not just because it’s a good analysis, but because I am Vietnamese and also like Banh Mi’s

[@danielmendes2162]

I would suggest extending it to: Penrith Richmond Sydney Airport The Central Coast The South Coast

[@seunghyukjung628]

PENRITH PLS NOW PLEASE YES PLEASE

[@LiuHuanhua]

@@seunghyukjung628Maybe a line from Parriewood to Penrith like Parriewood, Pemulwuy, Prospect, Eastern Creek/Rooty Hill South (Which could be extended to Rooty Hill North, Plumpton, Marsden Park Business Park then Marsden Park), Minchinbury, Colyton, Orchard Hills (Interchange with WSA Line), South Penrith, and then Penrith in both tunnels and bridges.

[@tasmaniantaswegian]

Central Coast? That's a long shot!

[@TransitSydney]

metro systems are not designed for intercity journeys - the high speed rail proposal is better suited to connecting the coasts to Sydney. It's incredibly unrealistic to create a metro from the south coast or central coast to anywhere! If it were that simple, the WSA metro would also be connected to the city directly. The metro isn't about covering long distances (the current M1 line is basically 3 lines combined i.e. the 3 stages), it's more about cutting time from already achievable journeys.

[@Elainerulesutube]

What about the northern beaches of Sydney?

[@SeamusGiveen]

I think the critique of stop-spacing doesn't make much sense. We have much greater distances to travel in Sydney and in Australia than in Toronto/Canada (generally). Sydney is also a relatively low-density city, and I think the future demand for stop-spacing of less than 2kms is very limited, considering the pre-existing barriers to development around metro stations.

[@gabr131s_89]

Agree with all points starting at 15:31. Makes a lot of sense extending metro west to the new western Sydney airport (aerotropolis that will be there), and also makes sense to extend southwest metro to Liverpool. (I’m a landscape architect and worked on the Sydenham to Bankstown project at concept stage!) Making all these metro lines connecting Sydney will make it such a better city overall

[@showhunterchic]

Definitely love ur ideas

[@yourfavouriteaircon]

Great Video ( Havent finished it yet )

[@conspiracyman8353]

Another point with that station data is that Schofields and other stations of the Richmond line saw a decrease (many around 6-7%). Given Tallawong's 40% increase I'm guessing a lot of those people are driving to Tallawaong to catch the Metro instead.

[@scottietheshark]

So amazing to see how the Metro is working already! Much, MUCH more is required, but don't hold your breath, definitely not with this government.

[@SupremeTrainEmperor]

Great video Sharath! Being a train nerd myself, I love all the stats and info as well as your future proposals. Sadly, I believe the government is preoccupied with a different project at the moment: High Speed rail. It is said they’ve already started planning for a Central Coast High Speed Rail, so sorry, but it doesn’t seem like they’re thinking much about the metro at the moment.

[@holiday197]

A link from Epping to Parramatta would also serve people travelling from the Central Coast (and even Newcastle) to Sydney for work. Strathfield is not a bad interchange (other than the long ramps up to the platforms). But a shorter and more direct route to Parramatta from Epping would encourage more people from the Central Coast and Newcastle to seek work in Parramatta. I would also argue that Hurstville could serve the same purpose for travellers from Wollongong and the South Coast. Build a metro from Hurstville to Parramatta.

[@John-p7i5g]

It's so dumb leaving the 2km disconnection between Epping and Carlingford.

[@annabelapurva-madhuri4861]

I love your videos but and the music is just always chefs kiss

[@reubenab6005]

Someone from Melbourne here, let me just say I’m so jealous. In NSW both sides of the political spectrum want to invest in PT. Meanwhile in Vic, our government is trying & appease everyone (transport wise). I reckon if Jacinta had her way we’d have more transit but the media & opposition would bash her for it. But it’s almost like our government is holding a double ended sword & jamming their hands onto both blades instead of just building more PT. The SRL is great but while it does have its flaws I’m still all for it (it was partially influenced by Sydney’s Metro). I personally would like an inner city connector to be built. Rebuilding the inner circle line, down to Victoria Park, then new stations in Abbotsford, Victoria Gardens SC, Barkers road area, Auburn, Goenferrie, Camberwell, converting the Alamein line, East Malvern, Chadstone, Oakleigh, Clayton, & Westall. Much like the Sydney Metro lines built to take strain off existing lines, help redevelop areas, & provide more accessible transport. I think people from Sydney forget how lucky they are to have a Metro.

[@mjcats2011]

Sorry, but is as though people are blind in Victoria. And if Jacinta is so worried about the Opposition and the Media then she should have not become Premier. The State Government's Big Build is overwhelmingly skewed towards roads. Upping the NE Link budget by $10 Billion whilst slashing a host of rail projects. Regarding PT, Victoria and especially Melbourne will always be years behind Sydney.

[@yesbeautyfly]

VIC still has lots of diesel trains, which run to the indoor Southern Cross Station, but banned gas appliances to be installed in new residential buildings. Does it make sense?

[@yesbeautyfly]

Please remember Melbourne Metro & Sydney Metro both have the same 60% shareholder who is the most profitable listed railway company in the world from the most Unaffordable city in the world & importantly that listed 'Empty R' has 3/4 shares owned by XX government.

[@jackokill]

Great Video Sharath!

[@Jarod-u1s]

Suggestion for a new Metro line Hurstville to Strathfield via campsie Stations at Hurstville Kingsrove Clermont park Campsie Enfield Strathfield , allowing far easier transfers between the all edges of Sydney

[@PaulsTrainVlogs]

Finding a car park for example Tallawong is FULL TO THE BRIM by 7am. I've seen up to 8 vehicles illegally parked and the owners of those vehicles received a infringement notice. A Multi Deck Car Park is desperately needed at Tallawong.

[@cloudcap-nv4cz]

Car parks are never enough. Need more buses.

[@mark123655]

A carrot and stick approach is needed. More connecting buses and make them free. Some charge for the carpark (say $4 with a weekly $12 cap)

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

12:59 What I don’t understand is that Liverpool has a population that’s about 10,000 less than Parramatta, but it is totally neglected in every instance. To drive from Liverpool to Bradfield will take about 25 minutes, but to travel via public transport currently takes me 3-4 hours each way. Even with the new lines, Apple still take longer than it does to travel from Central to Bradfield.

[@mgp1203]

The Liberal Government were intending to extend the Bankstown Metro to Livo but Labour cancelled it once they were in office. It's now put in last priority

[@gregessex1851]

19:40 If they think resources are a problem now (which they are!!!), imagine what would happen if they also tried to build seven nuclear power plants at the same time. It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious.

[@stephenblomfield6]

You sir are a total rock star. When are you going into politics to get these great ideas of yours into action ? You've got my vote.

[@conw_y]

Awesome video. Great music BTW! I'm loving our new metro. Nothing like hopping into air conditioned luxury on a hot summer weekend and stepping out into a classic parkland or a scenic harbour side. Now if only we could solve the housing problem! 😄

[@nomadMik]

I keep looking at the metro west line and wondering why it's not better connected. There are _four_ L1 stops at Pyrmont it could've connected with, but it doesn't; it's going to require going up to street level and back down again. To travel from it to the North Shore or Kingsford Smith Airport will require changing trains at Martin Place and then _again_ at Town Hall or Central-it's silly that it doesn't have more stations in the City, especially with spare platforms available at StJames. They're spending so much money, for something so half-arsed. 🙁

[@mycosys]

Have you covered the eternally 'soon' Glendale station/Lake Macquarie transport hub? Its the largest outdoor mall in the country, literally next to an old station and rail workshops. And all the major roads feed to it. Seems like the biggest gimme of a 'just build the place' in the state.

[@MB-co6qj]

Great vid!

[@Egg-mr7np]

Are there any stats available on road trafffic? Has the Highway traffic changed at all?

[@TrainandfnffanAswellasro-xc9ex]

i wish they brought back the ropes creek line i live right next to it i wish it would open back up again

[@sachaedwards2935]

I'm a ten minute walk from Town Hall and catch to train to St Leonards for work everyday. Even thought the train station is significantly closer to my work than Crows Nest Metro, I still catch it 80% of the time because it's just so reliable and so quick. My dad lives in Epping and it's made what used to be an hour an ten minute journey (you usually end up waiting 10 minutes for a T9 service) a 40 minute trip that is never delayed. I'm moving to Wolli Creek so I plan to continue commuting via metro by transferring at Sydenham.

[@CaratsRitzy]

18:23 Hurstville - Parramatta is roughly 1hr 10mins - 1hr20mins by train on google maps if excluding delays. Buses ETA is roughly +2hrs with a lot suburban rollercoaster toss n' turns. Cars is heavily dependant on time and date of the week. One of the problems with "older" suburbs is their affinity for tight turns single-lane entry/exit points out of the said suburbs. Heritage listings and vital infrastructures aside- It would be fun for someone to look into the development history of these older places and see why they are a major headache for long-term urban development.

[@RowanMangion1976]

Could you do a video on some of the country lines I would like to see you opinion on them.

[@AussieDave04]

There should be one type of service from the WSI to Sydney Airport. I think the heavy rail should continue from Leppington to Western Sydney Airport, running 24 hrs, so people can connect flights at Sydney Airport once the 6am curfew ends each morning. e.g. International flight arrives 3am at Western Sydney and can then catch "one" train to Sydney Airport, ready for the first morning flight. Just a suggestion. Thanks Sharath 🙂

[@gregessex1851]

They are not going to run heavy rail 24/7. It creates too many problems. Night buses will be adequate for the few passengers that elect to arrive at 3am and then elect to get public transport. Even Changi doesn’t have 24 hr trains.

[@AussieDave04]

@ wow cool

[@mark123655]

The number of people connecting will be very small

[@yesbeautyfly]

To make it 24 hours, probably 4 tracks are needed or at least 3 tracks so maintenance can be done regularly.

[@brittenmusic6923]

Another excellent episode of what can be. As one who grew up in the 'red rattler' era what we have now is awesome. Let's hope that the Government picks up on your excellent ideas and allows for a greater integration about living and transport.

[@martijnbroere6464]

While i like the idea of more connectedness in Sydney, i think it's about time to start thinking about better connections between close by centres, Gosford, Wyong, Wollongong, Picton, etc. The developments in these areas are massive, but the travel time to Sydney and/or Parramatta is what is slowing this down.

[@godfreysanter1565]

plus electrified heavy rail to Canberra (remember that place - the nation's capital?) via Goulburn.

[@ChrisTopher_Urbanism]

As one of the average (ex-)Sydney-siders who goes to bed at 8pm, thank you for documenting the Metro's 11pm popularity so I didn't have to stay up past my bedtime to witness it

[@p-the-v]

I'm a fan of the new Metro and use it whenever possible in preference to the trains because of the frequency and reliability. As such I come down the North Shore line and like many other people and swap over to the Metro at Chatswood. What is frustrating is that the trains are still not frequent. I would like to suggest that shuttle trains run from Hornsby to Chatswood (say one per half hour) in addition to the regular train service into the city. This would greatly improve the overall frequency. Perhaps similar shuttles could run on other lines which feed onto the Metro.

[@Coastal603]

The fact that we essentially have to wait until the Brisbane Olympics for a metro line that doesn’t even go west all the way is ridiculous. Meanwhile, there are other cities around the world building these types of projects way quicker. Embarrassing 🤦‍♂️

[@KyrilPG]

Noice ! Yeah, station spacing could be surprising, as it's comparable to the Grand Paris Express, which is an express metro expansion that comes on top of a large metro network, a cross regional express heavy metro network (RER), a tramway network, and a suburban train network. The finer services to many more catchment areas are already there, not so much in Sydney, but there's also the issue of density. A few more stations to serve more places wouldn't be too much. Anyway, the 25-year plan proposal is exciting, and I hope it will happen. It would be great for Sydney to see this come true. Greetings from Paris!

[@matthewgibbons7454]

Can you do a video on the lack of transport in Camden a growth centre

[@KrayzieRyan]

What about some type of rail to the northern beaches?

[@Dobuan75]

It's likely related, but Crows Nest is pumping on Friday and weekend nights. What an incredible boost to the local economy. Hopes for the future: Parramatta to Liverpool. Parramatta to Penrith. A Northern Beaches Line. The Eastern Suburbs line converted and extended - one branch to Bondi Beach, one to Maroubra via Randwick, Coogee etc. Maquarie Park via Ryde and Rhodes to Olympic Park. And a monorail. Every great town has one. North Haverbrook, Ogdenville, Brockway...

[@dxrkinfuser_44]

what about a north south link through baukham hills and northmead to harris park and then convert the t5 southwards?

[@fittipaldi7326]

Agreed .. I live in Castle Hill and have have dinner a couple of times at Crows Nest. Would never have done that before the Metro.

[@fss779]

Where are the South-west Growth Corrdior lines? How do they plan to support the new airport? Your thoughts @BuildingBeautifully

[@adhandshadow4545]

I live in Cherrybrook and its faster to go to castle hill metro then it is to go to Cherrybrook metro. 600 is verry fast sure it a bit of a walk since you have to walk to Cherrybrook village but its faster however if I leave plan my trip I can catch 626 its just more annoying since the bus gets canceled alot

[@rawpowerinmotion]

Now that Jo Haylen left her post who do you think would be best to fill the void of one of the most important roles in New South Wales? Will this have an effect on future projects?

[@Pasta_Pirate]

Please do the orbital line, Kogarah and Hurstville are very busy stations with lots of willing commuters and it's a shame how hard it is to get anywhere besides the CBD from here, it's made worse due to there not even being any roads that head towards Parramatta to the point that any trip that way is predominantly streets that are under 40kmh. It feels increasingly like this whole area is being slowly forgotten and disconnected from the rest of Sydney despite having a ton of people

[@Point.3]

Orbital would be great. They could go under king George’s road. Easy to find digging sites and a clear corridor. It would mean connecting with metro west at Olympic park not parramatta but that would be great for sporting events and recreation - not to mention all the new homes there

[@Preset1]

Question, where would you look to buy a unit and where would you buy a house close to public transport? Now that there are and will be so much more transport

[@yesbeautyfly]

To buy an unit is the way to make sole land title forfeited & statically lots apartments near major train stations suffer capital LOSS.

[@legohistorytube.3148]

13:50 - 14:13 As someone living along the T8 line, I think the change might not be a good idea as the T8 line trains already get super busy with people going to Kingsford Smith Airport, and adding the New Airport to the T8 line could just make the T8s trains even more packed with people going to and from both Airports in the future. Btw, to answer your earlier talk about the Bankstown metro line, I can say that it should be completed around Sept this year.

[@njbwine]

Does anyone know what the Bankstown to Lidcombe roll back will result in? Will it just be stabling, and the inner west line extended to Bankstown? Is there capacity to build an underpass at Lidcombe to run more frequent services to Olympic Park, enabling a link between the two lines?

[@rabidsminions2079]

I saw plans for a railstation at Eastlakes but this isn't due for 20 or more years.

[@TharsanJeyachandran]

Great ep

[@SupremeTrainEmperor]

Also, what is your opinion on Japan’s rail network??? I’m going to Japan in April and am really excited, especially for the public transport. But what are your thoughts on it?

[@dulcinealee3933]

What did you say an astounding sucess? I just returned from overseas to find a metro replacement bus sign at Chatswood Again!!! Oh how I miss the almost bullet proof operations of the metro equivalent overseas!!!

[@johnstefanis6297]

Why not connect the metro west with the airport metro at st Mary’s?

[@Topher5035]

Here is a question, is the explanation for the 1.5kv vs 25kv in the first line, the decision to re use the Epping to Chatswood tunnels?

[@uasakura]

I was hoping to see majority of these when I'm still in my prime, but looks like I might just catch a glimpse of these when I retire

[@grahambaker6664]

It would be good if they could send a metro line from Sydenham to Bondi Junction via a loop through the airport, Port Botany, the unserved southern end of the Eastern Suburbs, an interchange to each of the Light Rail lines. Effectively this would finish the Eastern Suburbs Railway albeit as a mix of heavy rail and metro.

[@tanichiro]

so the common consensus is... We want more Automated trains not hindered by union strikes 👀

[@jace888au]

Happy Chinese new year to you too sharath!

[@douglachman7330]

Your a star young enthusiastic man. However discussing planning and preparing is an excellent activity. However for the next few years the state economy needs time to move on and absorb the massive design and construction costs. The construction workforce are desperately needed for home and home unit construction. This construction employment is required to stabilise accommodation availability at an affordable expense. Keep up the quality informative work.

[@ray2208aus]

A cheaper alternative to extending metro from Bankstown to Liverpool would be to create a Y (also known as triangle) north of glenfield to allow direct trains from Liverpool to holswothy. This would give Liverpool faster connection with city and Illawarra / airport. Additional tracks could be laid between revesby and eaat hills with perhaps a third track from Georges River (exclusive) to the new triangle to support peak express. You could then have 4 trains per hour running Liverpool to city via revesby and either sydenham or airport. These could even start at blacktown to give direct connectivity to Parramatta from T8.

[@staryoshi06]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the proposal for the new cumberland line.

[@JSONSEC]

Building at Waterloo and not Zetland just seems like a massive oversight

[@coasterblocks3420]

Should have built high speed rail between the east coast capitals and intermediate regional cities. This would have reduced congestion at Sydney airport negating the need to build a new airport. Two steps backwards, four steps backwards.

[@tacitdionysus3220]

Hi Sharath. A comprehensive, intelligently presented clip, as is your habit. There are things I agree with and things I don't - with reasons given in the comments below: Buses - Yes, that area needs more work. Bankstown Metro - Looking forward to it. Perhaps it is also a good spot for interchange with a future orbital line. The WSI Airport Metro Puzzled at your views on this. Its purpose is core to greater Sydney planning (or rather, its "Three City Planning")? I'm excited about how it will introduce the Light Metro concept to Australia. It's a model that should also be considered for any orbital lines. It creates a north-south spine knitting together the most populous parts of Western Sydney, (and facilitating its development. The initial four connections with other lines are useful, but the big connector is the extension of the West Metro to the airport. WSI Airport Metro's purpose is to make Western Sydney even more of a place where you simply don't need to go anywhere else in order to get/do whatever you need. Look at any of the airport drone footage and you can see where space has been left for the extended West Metro (e.g. under Elizabeth Drive and running beside the WSI Airport Metro inside the airport boundaries - or check out the Western Sydney Airport.Site Layout 10MAP and 82MAP online. They show the whole airport, including metro/s, when it serves 10 Million Annual Passengers (about 2030) and when expanded for 82 Million Annual Passengers (in the 2060s). Metro West Years ago, there was a contention between 'no stops' and 'many stops' for a Sydney-Parramatta line. It might have ended up as a "fast metro", now popping up to connect major centres within Chinese poly-centric mega-cities. I have no issue with it. Agree with a stop at Rosehill (if possible to engineer with everything else there). Silverwater.. meh! Toronto Comparisons Toronto has a great system. But it is different from Sydney; set on a shoreline with dense development out along it, with dense deepening to the north of its centree. The lines you refer to do have 'classic metro' station intervals, and were built when other than 'classic metros' did not yet exist. IA Sydney equivalent to their Line One, it would be from say Bankstown into the city then back out along the inner west line to, say, Homebush. The station intervals on such a route would be similar to Toronto. Like most major cities, Toronto has two separate rail systems. One serving inner city and inner suburbs, and once serving the outer areas to the city. Australian city didn't do that, but opted for a single hybrid train system serving both. Sydney Metro could be argued as continuing that same approach, with newer technology. The second system in Toronto is GO. It is getting better, but its original concept was to only run trains for commuters into the city each morning, and back out again in the evening. Now there are more two-way services, but frequency is more like every 30 minutes, sometimes every 15, but in some places hourly. It's provided with long double deck cars, hauled by diesel locomotives. Probably not something we would want to copy. 'Missing' Metro Stations As described above, Australian cities don't have separate metro (for the inner city) and commuter / regional trains (inner city to outer suburbs), so common overseas, but hybrid trains that do both. Somehow the idea has developed that Sydney Trains are wonderful because they can do both. However, Sydney Metro is apparently evil and inappropriate when it also shows it can do both. Metro systems have evolved from inner city "classical" to a whole set of options, like 'fast metros and 'light metros'. They are also doing a hybrid job with more modern technology. When in densely populated areas their station intervals will be similar to classic metros. When they get out in the suburbs their stations may be further apart, reflecting their wider commuter role. As well as that, there are times that people imply a station should be somewhere, without looking at a topographic map or satellite view to check if that makes sense. Here are some examples: - There's a big gap between Barangaroo and Victoria Cross - Most people get this one - is under the middle of the harbour is not a useful station location - There's a gap between Chatswood and North Ryde - that's because the line is under Lane Cove National Park - few people, lots of wildlife with no interest in taking a train - Between Macquarie University and Epping the line is under Terry's Creek and its bushland. - Between Epping and Cherrybrook it's under State Forest and lots of just houses (a Denistonian Wilderness) I won't go any further, I think it illustrates the point. Sure there are places where you can cogently argue for an additional station (e.g. some of the places on the West Metro). But that's not the same as just dividing the total distance by the number of stations and saying "Oh look the station intervals are too wide for the classic concept of a metro, so it's wrong". There's a similar thing with the claim that "Barrangaroo station should be closer to the eateries and the ferry wharf". Sounds sensible until you remember how the line curves so hard from Martin Place to Barangaroo just to get into a station there at all. Geography and limitations imposed by physics and engineering will always win over wishful thinking. Having said that, it's a very safe bet that the people near, say, the WSI Airport line as it approaches Narellan from the north (who currently want it all underground), will complain bitterly in decades to come that they should dig it up and put in a another station so its's a closer walk for them. Future Proposals. I don't find much surprising in the 'secret' report. It would be nice to have the southern extension of the WSI Airport Metro before 2047, but the A9 (already widened and connecting to those areas) is a fast road for buses in the interim. (Which reminds me, no mention of the express buses to WSI Airport every thirty minutes from Penrith, Mt Druitt, Blacktown, Liverpool (2 routes via Elizabeth Drive, and via Leppington) and from Oran Park / Camden / Campbelltown. Or the $1 Billion update to 15th Avenue, which runs from Liverpool, through its own western suburbs to Bradfield and the Airport in a fairly straight line.) The delivery dates look fairly realistic to me, given the limited workforce available for complex, multiple, simultaneous projects. Metros in General I have no problem with having different metros, tailored to different purposes, optimised for different types of areas. In fact that's the way it should be, and how it is across most of the planet. (BTW, the lines you mentioned in Toronto are not even standard gauge track, like the rest of their system - go figure?.) It is a 'one size fits all" systems that guarantees overspending in places and underperforming in others. It is rail networks with highly interconnected tracks that enables problems of one part to affect most of the other parts. Cross-platform exchange is a good idea between the M1 and the WSI Airport Metro at Schofields / Tallawong. - 25KvAC is a far superior power supply in cost and effectiveness to the old 1500vDC system (great in its time and still functional). Any part of the rail system in NSW that can change over to 25KvAC, should do so when appropriate. Probably the only reason the M1 still uses 1500vDC is because it runs so intimately in places with existing 1500vDC Sydney Trains lines. 25KvAC is also really the only choice for any future long distance HSR. I am a huge fan of elevated metro rail systems. They are usually much quieter than surrounding traffic, and enable new stations to be inserted much more easily if ever needed. There are obvious places where undergrounding is necessary. Sydney's East-Enders would probably object to elevated trains, because they can. Westies however, are often far more pragmatic, until you get into 'greener' areas like Campbelltown. I would support elevation most of the way to Narellan from Bradfield South if that were possible. The Connection with the South West Link The idea of the SW Link being extended to an exchange station with Bradfield South appeals to me. It's already a fairly well used line. The SW Link enables turnaround of T2 and T5 trains that otherwise would need to do it at Campbelltown. It means the stabling facility can still be used for Sydney Trains. It's likely the line could be extended more cheaply at ground level to Bradfield South. Extending heavy rail line further north from Bradfield South adds a lot of cost (bigger tunnels and station boxes etc.) with no added amenity. You might also later want to extend the SW Link even further west to meet the Western orbital freight and motorway corridor (only a few Km further to the west). I don't agree with 'providing trains from one airport to the other is essential for travellers'. If you are flying into Sydney to make a transfer to another flight, you fly to the airport that provides that transfer, not to the other one and a train ride. More importantly than anything else, the much more cost-effective WSI Airport Metro should not be diverted from its task of knitting greater Western Sydney together as an independent city within the Sydney Metropolis, by being 'side-tracked' for other agendas. Sydney is not a single-centred city, and hasn't been for decades. The transport system needs to focus on travel within and around each of Sydney's poly-centric cities, every bit as much as the old obsession with 'everything must be connected with Sydney Cove"

[@airtraveller2893]

Bro wrote a whole essay