Heads up, Sydney commuters: from Sunday, October 19, train timetables across the city and beyond are getting a shake-up. The good news? Most of the changes are pretty minor, but they could mean your usual service leaves a little earlier (or later) than you’re used to – so it’s worth double-checking before you rock up to the platform.
The tweaks are part of Transport for NSW’s regular review of services, which aims to smooth out journeys and improve reliability across the network. Here’s the breakdown:
- T1 Western Line: Granville is getting some love, with 185 extra express services each week. That’s thanks to 22 Richmond–North Sydney trains and 15 North Sydney–Richmond trains now stopping at Granville during off-peak. A handful of other weekday services will shift by one or two minutes at stations including Strathfield, Redfern, Parramatta and Blacktown.
- T8 Airport & South Line: Two Wednesday afternoon services are being nudged forward slightly. The 1.40pm Central to Sydenham train will now get into Sydenham at 1.50pm (five minutes earlier), while the 2.02pm Sydenham to the CBD service will run two to three minutes earlier through stations including Erskineville, St Peters and Redfern.
- Blue Mountains, Hunter and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines: Expect a few timetable and platform changes across the week. No dramatic changes, but enough to keep you on your toes if you’re a regular passenger.
Plus, if you’re a student or planning around HSC exams, it’s worth noting that buses will continue replacing trains between Sydenham and Bankstown on the Southwest Link during the exam period.
All in all, the adjustments are small, but they might catch you out if you’re running late. The updated timetables drop on October 5, so check the Transport NSW website before the changes kick in. Let’s be honest: missing your train by one minute is a Sydney rite of passage – but this time, you’ve got fair warning.