The first driverless trains left the newly completed city section of the Sydney Metro early on the morning of Aug. 19.
The very first left Tullawong Station at 4:38 a.m., with New South Wales (NSW) Transport Minister Jo Jaylen posting images online riding on the initial service.
The $21.6 billion (US$14.4 billion) train line beneath the Sydney central business district (CBD) had originally been set to open in July, but safety checks required additional time.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the new rail line as a “big step forward.”
“This is a massive piece of transport infrastructure, and in part, credit should go to former Premier Mike Baird, his successor, Gladys Berejiklian, and her successor, Dominic Perrottet,” he said in a statement.
The NSW government says the expanded metro network will benefit the city, including better access across Sydney Harbour during busy times and the first station for Barangaroo.
The remaining 13 kilometres of the M1 Line will open after 10 existing stations on the T3 Bankstown Line are converted.
In a statement, Haylen crunched the numbers to show the enormity of the project.
“I want to honour the legacy of the 50,000 workers who have built this railway, which will serve Sydney for the next century,” she said.
“We are anticipating crowds of potentially up to 200,000 people today for the first day of operations so please be patient and mindful as you get familiar with this fantastic new way to travel.”
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said crowds of 37,000 were expected during morning peaks.
Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan reminded passengers to hold on during take-off, with trains set to travel at speeds of up to 100km/h.
From Aug. 20, interpeak trains will run every seven minutes, increasing to a train every five minutes after the first month.
A total of 445 new metro services will run through the heart of the city each weekday.
The 45 new metro trains can each carry more than 1,150 people and will significantly alleviate pressure on existing transport and road networks, according to the government.
“We have stood up our joint operations centre to ensure there are as many eyes as possible on Sydney’s entire road and public transport network as we introduce the city section of the M1 line into the mix,” Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said in a statement.
“For the first time in the CBD, we will have a world-class metro that will provide seamless connections with our existing modes of public transport, something our global city deserves and needs.”
Commuters left mixed reactions online, with some saying services needed to start earlier and others preferring to take the bus with a short travel time.
