Sydney Metro City Marks First Year of Passenger Services

Sydney Metro has marked the first anniversary of services on its City section, reporting strong passenger uptake and measurable changes in travel patterns across the metropolitan network.

Between August 2024 and July 2025, more than 66.8 million passenger journeys were made on the M1 Northwest & Bankstown Line, which now runs from Tallawong through the city centre to Sydenham.

Around 210,000 trips are recorded on a typical weekday, including 120,000 beneath Sydney Harbour. Metro trains achieved an average punctuality of 99.4 percent during the first year.

The opening of the City section has contributed to a broader rise in public transport use, with 17.8 million additional ticketed trips across all modes compared with the previous year. The 15.5 km twin tunnels, which opened on 19 August 2024, connect new stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal and Waterloo, along with new platforms at Central and Sydenham.

Data from Transport for NSW indicates changes in road and rail patronage since the Metro extension opened. Average southbound vehicle volumes over the Sydney Harbour Bridge have fallen by about 3,200 per day. At the same time, more than 120,000 weekday trips now take place below the harbour.

Central is currently the busiest of the new metro stations, handling about 22,800 weekday trips, followed by Martin Place with 20,600. Barangaroo, which brought rail access to the harbourside precinct for the first time, records around 7,000 daily users and has played a role in managing demand during major events.

Sydney Metro reports approximately 940,000 monthly interchanges from Sydney Trains to Metro services, alongside 390,000 from buses to Metro.

Weekend patronage has also been strong, averaging 118,000 journeys across Saturdays and Sundays.

The M1 Line currently spans 51.5 km and 21 stations between Tallawong and Sydenham. Once the final section to Bankstown opens next year, more than 50,000 people will have worked on the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.