Sydney Metro Line Opening Delayed Due to Safety Approvals

The big news in Sydney today is that the much-anticipated metro line connecting Chatswood and Sydenham will not open this Sunday as planned. Instead, the launch has been postponed indefinitely while we wait for crucial safety approvals.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen shared that the network is largely ready, but they need to tick off a few more boxes with the national rail safety regulator. Originally, the new line was set to be unveiled on August 4, but the necessary sign-offs just aren’t in place yet.

Jo Haylen expressed her disappointment over the delay but reassured everyone that it wouldn’t be too long before passengers can start using the trains. “This railway is 99 percent ready,” she mentioned, emphasizing that the hold-up is mostly bureaucratic.

There are four final safety exercises that need to be conducted with Fire and Rescue NSW before they can get the go-ahead. The delays were partly influenced by a recent issue on the North West line, where passengers got stuck on a train due to a fire incident.

After conducting over 11,000 hours of testing, Haylen is confident in the safety of the network, saying, “The railway is safe, it’s not a question of safety.” Unfortunately, no new date for the opening has been established yet.

Just a day before this announcement, Premier Chris Minns insisted that everything was on track but acknowledged that there’s still some paperwork to finalize. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator clarified that several critical safety checks remain unfinished.

Even though the opening plan has fallen through, new bus services will be rolled out this weekend to accommodate travelers from Chatswood to the city.

Jo Haylen remarked, “We’ve worked through over 11,000 hours of testing… but we need a little more time for the safety regulator to give us the final tick of approval.”

The line has been a decade in the making and comprises six new underground stations, including stops at Victoria Cross and others. Passengers are expected to experience speedy travel, with just nine minutes between Central and North Sydney.

Despite the delays, Transport for NSW is ready to go as soon as they receive the final approvals. As Josh Murray, the Secretary for Transport, put it, “We are fit, we are ready and we are on the blocks,” but they just have to be patient for the final nod to get things started.