Bankstown metro launch keeps Sydney's replacement buses on standby

Commuters prepare for shorter journeys while a local cafe owner describes the strain of the construction period.

AustraliaStory of October 30, 2026Trari Newsroom

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Sydney's $23 billion South West Metro opens | 7NEWS

Sydney's southwest metro is preparing to welcome its first passengers, but the pink replacement buses are not disappearing immediately. They will remain available through the weekend as backup during the changeover, according to Australian broadcaster 7NEWS Australia.

Reporting from Canterbury station ahead of the opening, Taylor Aiken describes final preparations for a debut service scheduled for 4:31 a.m. New South Wales Transport Minister John Graham expects hundreds of people to turn out despite the early hour: "It'll be dark. It'll be cold. It'll be 4:31, and we're expecting hundreds of people."

The report puts the investment at A$23 billion and says the upgraded route will bring the journey from Lakemba, in Sydney's southwest, to Central station down to approximately 20 minutes. Retrofitted stations form part of the conversion to metro service after two years of construction.

For businesses along the route, the opening also marks the end of a difficult wait. Haytham Wafa, owner of Chinchilla X-Press cafe in Bankstown, says: "We've been counting down until this day." He describes the last 16 months as "horrible."

Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen acknowledges the lengthy process, saying the ride will be worth it. In a live update from Bankstown station, reporter Paul Kadak explains the remaining transition arrangements: the replacement buses will stay on standby through the weekend and finish on Sunday.

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