Commuters in Sydney are being urged to prepare for disruptions to their weekend travel plans as essential rail repair work is scheduled to take place on several key train lines.
The affected lines include the T1 Western, T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown, T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra, and T7 Olympic Park Lines.
For those planning to attend events at the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, such as the upcoming Sam Smith concert and NBL games, it’s important to note that buses will replace trains on the following lines:
Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>
- T1 Western Line: Buses will operate between Parramatta and Olympic Park.
- T2 Inner West & Leppington Line: Bus services will run between Merrylands and Olympic Park.
- T3 Bankstown Line: Replacement buses will be available between Olympic Park, Lidcombe, and Bankstown.
- T7 Olympic Park Line: Buses will substitute trains between Olympic Park and Parramatta, Merrylands, and Bankstown.
On the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line, buses will take over train services between Cronulla and Sutherland. Additionally, on Saturday from 11.30pm to 2am, buses will replace trains between Cronulla, Waterfall and Hurstville.
The rail repair work involves over 700 workers addressing approximately 45 high-priority defects across the affected lines. Passengers are strongly advised to plan for additional travel time and stay informed by checking the Transport for NSW website, or using trip planning apps for real-time updates.
Intercity services also affected
Beyond the metropolitan lines, people who rely on intercity services do not escape the weekend disruptions. On the Blue Mountains line, buses will replace trains between Blacktown and Strathfield. Trains departing from Blacktown heading towards Blue Mountains line stations will leave 30 minutes later than usual.
For the Central Coast and Newcastle line, trains will operate solely between Central Coast and Newcastle line stations and Strathfield during the weekend.
On the South Coast line, buses will replace trains between Waterfall and Hurstville on Saturday from 11.30pm to 2am on Sunday. On Sunday, from 9am to 5pm, buses will also substitute trains from Port Kembla to Wollongong, with the situation reversed from 10am to 6pm.
MS Gong Ride special arrangements
Cyclists participating in the MS Gong Ride on Sunday will have special arrangements in place. Additional early morning trains on the South Coast line towards Sydney will help participants reach the start line at Tempe or Engadine. After the event concludes, extra trains will operate from Wollongong to Central.
Cyclists are encouraged to consider public transport, with trains being the preferred mode of travel to and from the event.
Sydney Metro disruptions
In addition to the Rail Repair Plan, buses will replace Metro services between Tallawong and Chatswood throughout the weekend, causing further adjustments to travel plans for affected passengers.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
