Hi Marty, thanks for the update of progress of this particular line. They seem to be doing an excellent job. It will be interesting seeing the Metro extension there finally open. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Thanks for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I grew up down that way, but not been back really for many years so enjoying looking around this part of Sydney again. And the best part of this new metro is that it is all 'above ground' so easy to watch progress.
As always thanks for the update Marty, nice to see whats been done on the conversion, and it feels great that all the platform doors have been completed. It almost feels like they could finish the stations ahead of time. I'm assuming they must be doing the trackwork at sametime especially if they want to start testing in Feb 2025. I live on the T4 (South) would love to see part or all of our line converted or even T8 ( im in between both lines haha).
Thanks for watching and commenting. Appreciate it.. Lived most of my early life on the T4 catching everyday to High School.. agree I also thought why did they not consider at least the Hurstville all stations tracks to be metro.. would have been great eh! but then thought with all the freight using the T4 they would need the flex of 4 lines all the way?
@@BackTracks.SideTracked I think thats the main sticking point the freight train and pretty much only space for dual track to Wolli Creek unless they re-align the whole thing. Alternatively my idea why not tunnel from Oatley to Sydneham . They would need to build a bridge across Georges River if they wanted to start somewhere on the otherside Sutherland? Not sure they can tunnel under the river probably be too much of big climb for the metro to connect up to hurstville or maybe a totally different route Sutherland >Peakhurst > Hurstville > Kogarah > Rockdale (? Might be too close) Wollli Creek > Sydneham
Good thought re a tunnel. I wonder though maybe instead of a line duplicating an existing corridor they could take pressure off that line by building one to a nearby alignment - ie a light rail or metro along the former F6 corridor from Dolls Point through Scarborough Park etc to the airport and into SE Sydney... maybe even connect up with the METRO WEST line?
@@BackTracks.SideTracked that would be good idea they need some form of rail along there in Brighton Le Sands up to Dolls Point light rail would be idea. My other thought is we could be like melbourne and up it all up in there air haha
Thanks for watching Bob and a happy new year to you too. Just finished the video in time for a whole lot of people to come over for NYE at our place.. Looking forward to 2025. In terms of transport...opening of the Bankstown Metro will be good.. and first sod turned on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2!.
Hey Marty, I’d like to compare answers for that tidbit about 5 spots in sydney where you can have a shot with a train and tram: Circular Quay, Central from Chalmers, Dulwich Hill, Longport St in Summer Hill and Parramatta looking south on Church St? From Google Maps, not really sure if I can see a tram from the south ramp at Westmead and if we’re including the new line!
Hey great catch. I had put the 5th location actually as Loftus tram museum / Loftus Railway Station. But I think you may be right.. I reckon we probably could get a shot at Westmead. I did consider the Church Street shot.. but from memory I couldn't get a shot of it.. but a challenge! When I am next out there (trying to get there in my hols before having to go back to my day job) I will see.. if you see first... please share.. good fun.
Ha, million dollar question.. actually probably more than that as the contractors would get penalties I guess if they don't reach deadline.. my completely uneducated view is that the stations seem to be nearly ready.. and that platform barriers are in place suggests they will start running trial trains on time in Feb.. while they do internal station / platform works and Bankstown buildings. I think they are on track.. and governments build in 'fat' to timelines these days..
There are always snags, I work in a site office and not even I know why things happen as they do, testing was due to start in December but often it's out of our hands while we wait for decisions from Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains. We as a private company can have a schedule that makes sense but we can't assume government will agree until after we've started constructing and they give their input
One of my disappointments is around the non-underground stations. If you happen to be near an underground station, you are protected from the heat, cold, wind and rain. However if your metro station is above ground, there will only be a few doors that will be near some protection. This may cause bunching up and not delivering the efficiency of passenger boarding as per the underground stations. Spend $$$$$ on underground stations, and passengers will have an awesome experience; spend cents on above-ground passenger comfort.
You have a point here. On hot or rainy days, passengers in the above-ground stations will be concentrated under whatever overhead shelter / canopies that are available. In many of the above-ground stations, that is a small percentage of the complete platform. It is likely many considerations have gone into this compromise; cost, compatibility with heritage design, cost, additional time to construct, and cost 😉.
Thanks for your thoughts. Be great if all were underground agree! And good point re bunching. I have generally thought transport planners 'evenly' space out entrances and exits of platforms to 'even out' where passengers want to stand. But maybe not that much thought goes into it? I have noticed now overseas some transport apps are showing which carriage to get into for your exit station / and number of people per carriage.
Good question. There is surprisingly little media about this project at the moment - and the web site for METRO has no update (infact there is not that much news worthy news on that site). So my guess is that they are slightly behind as they said all Platform Doors would be in by end of November. But not enough to delay opening as yet. I reckon well get an update before end of Jan as they will be need to be announcing train testing before / about that time.
Hi Marty, thanks for the update of progress of this particular line. They seem to be doing an excellent job. It will be interesting seeing the Metro extension there finally open. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Thanks Rob, good to hear from you. Hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year.
Nice update. Appreciate the time you've taken to put together the update on all the stations.
Thanks for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I grew up down that way, but not been back really for many years so enjoying looking around this part of Sydney again. And the best part of this new metro is that it is all 'above ground' so easy to watch progress.
As always thanks for the update Marty, nice to see whats been done on the conversion, and it feels great that all the platform doors have been completed. It almost feels like they could finish the stations ahead of time. I'm assuming they must be doing the trackwork at sametime especially if they want to start testing in Feb 2025. I live on the T4 (South) would love to see part or all of our line converted or even T8 ( im in between both lines haha).
Thanks for watching and commenting. Appreciate it.. Lived most of my early life on the T4 catching everyday to High School.. agree I also thought why did they not consider at least the Hurstville all stations tracks to be metro.. would have been great eh! but then thought with all the freight using the T4 they would need the flex of 4 lines all the way?
@@BackTracks.SideTracked I think thats the main sticking point the freight train and pretty much only space for dual track to Wolli Creek unless they re-align the whole thing. Alternatively my idea why not tunnel from Oatley to Sydneham . They would need to build a bridge across Georges River if they wanted to start somewhere on the otherside Sutherland? Not sure they can tunnel under the river probably be too much of big climb for the metro to connect up to hurstville or maybe a totally different route Sutherland >Peakhurst > Hurstville > Kogarah > Rockdale (? Might be too close) Wollli Creek > Sydneham
Good thought re a tunnel. I wonder though maybe instead of a line duplicating an existing corridor they could take pressure off that line by building one to a nearby alignment - ie a light rail or metro along the former F6 corridor from Dolls Point through Scarborough Park etc to the airport and into SE Sydney... maybe even connect up with the METRO WEST line?
@@BackTracks.SideTracked that would be good idea they need some form of rail along there in Brighton Le Sands up to Dolls Point light rail would be idea. My other thought is we could be like melbourne and up it all up in there air haha
Thanks Marty for the wonderful pictures in 2024, Happy new year cheers bob.🥳🍺🍻🍷🍾🎆🎊
Thanks for watching Bob and a happy new year to you too. Just finished the video in time for a whole lot of people to come over for NYE at our place.. Looking forward to 2025. In terms of transport...opening of the Bankstown Metro will be good.. and first sod turned on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2!.
Hey Marty, I’d like to compare answers for that tidbit about 5 spots in sydney where you can have a shot with a train and tram: Circular Quay, Central from Chalmers, Dulwich Hill, Longport St in Summer Hill and Parramatta looking south on Church St? From Google Maps, not really sure if I can see a tram from the south ramp at Westmead and if we’re including the new line!
Hey great catch. I had put the 5th location actually as Loftus tram museum / Loftus Railway Station. But I think you may be right.. I reckon we probably could get a shot at Westmead. I did consider the Church Street shot.. but from memory I couldn't get a shot of it.. but a challenge! When I am next out there (trying to get there in my hols before having to go back to my day job) I will see.. if you see first... please share.. good fun.
Looking good. What do you think are the chances of hitting the deadline?
Ha, million dollar question.. actually probably more than that as the contractors would get penalties I guess if they don't reach deadline.. my completely uneducated view is that the stations seem to be nearly ready.. and that platform barriers are in place suggests they will start running trial trains on time in Feb.. while they do internal station / platform works and Bankstown buildings. I think they are on track.. and governments build in 'fat' to timelines these days..
There are always snags, I work in a site office and not even I know why things happen as they do, testing was due to start in December but often it's out of our hands while we wait for decisions from Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains. We as a private company can have a schedule that makes sense but we can't assume government will agree until after we've started constructing and they give their input
One of my disappointments is around the non-underground stations. If you happen to be near an underground station, you are protected from the heat, cold, wind and rain. However if your metro station is above ground, there will only be a few doors that will be near some protection. This may cause bunching up and not delivering the efficiency of passenger boarding as per the underground stations. Spend $$$$$ on underground stations, and passengers will have an awesome experience; spend cents on above-ground passenger comfort.
You have a point here. On hot or rainy days, passengers in the above-ground stations will be concentrated under whatever overhead shelter / canopies that are available. In many of the above-ground stations, that is a small percentage of the complete platform. It is likely many considerations have gone into this compromise; cost, compatibility with heritage design, cost, additional time to construct, and cost 😉.
Thanks for your thoughts. Be great if all were underground agree!
And good point re bunching. I have generally thought transport planners 'evenly' space out entrances and exits of platforms to 'even out' where passengers want to stand. But maybe not that much thought goes into it? I have noticed now overseas some transport apps are showing which carriage to get into for your exit station / and number of people per carriage.
when is it expected to complete? still September 2025?
Good question. There is surprisingly little media about this project at the moment - and the web site for METRO has no update (infact there is not that much news worthy news on that site). So my guess is that they are slightly behind as they said all Platform Doors would be in by end of November. But not enough to delay opening as yet. I reckon well get an update before end of Jan as they will be need to be announcing train testing before / about that time.
That really depends on NSW government, the same delays we saw with Chatswood to Sydenham are likely
Totally unnecessary project. Will disturb the whole network west of Bankstown. $1bn wasted. Could have been spent on light rail somewhere else.