Advice for passengers and road users across Sydney this weekend and through the holiday period
Motorists and passengers are advised of changed traffic and travel conditions across Greater Sydney due to maintenance, project works and major events.
Industrial action
Due to ongoing industrial action, delays and cancellations are expected on Sydney Trains, Intercity and NSW Trainlink services. Allow extra travel time and consider all your transport options. More information can be found here.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Multiple lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge deck will close for maintenance and upgrade works from tonight:
• Friday 20 December: 10.30pm – 6am (up to five lanes).
• Saturday 21 December: 10.30pm – 7am (up to three lanes).
• Sunday 22 December: 9pm – 5am (three lanes).
• Thursday 26 December: 10pm – 4.30am (up to four lanes).
• Friday 27 December: 10pm – 8am (up to five lanes) plus one lane closed for 24 hours.
• Saturday 28 December: 9.30pm – 7am (up to four lanes) plus one lane closed for 24 hours.
• Sunday 29 December: 10pm – 4.30am (up to three lanes) plus one lane closed for 24 hours.
• Monday 30 December: 10pm – 4.30am (up to three lanes) plus one lane closed for 24 hours.
• Tuesday 31 December: 11pm – 1.30am (all lanes) then 1.30am – 6am (three lanes).
• Wednesday 1 January: 8pm – 5am (up to four lanes).
• Thursday 2 January: 9.30pm – 5am (up to three lanes) plus one lane closed for 24 hours.
Motorists can use other lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as available or drive through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as an alternative route, noting tunnel closures below.
Sydney Harbour Tunnel
Motorists are advised that the Sydney Harbour Tunnel will be partially closed at certain times over the next fortnight.
• Thursday 26 December: 10pm – 5am (both southbound lanes).
• Friday 27 December: 10pm – 8am (both northbound lanes).
• Saturday 28 December: 10pm – 7am (both southbound lanes).
• Monday 30 December: 11.59pm – 5am (both southbound lanes).
• Wednesday 1 January: 11.59pm – 5am (both southbound lanes).
Warringah Freeway Upgrade
Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions on the Warringah Freeway during the school holidays. Multiple temporary lane and ramp closures will be in place from 10pm Thursday 26 December 2024 to 5am Sunday 26 January 2025. For full details see here.
Essential Trackwork
Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 December
• T2 and T3 Inner West Line trains will not run. T2 Leppington Line trains run to a changed timetable and make extra stops at all stations between Strathfield and Central.
• T1 North Shore, T1 Western, T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West, T9 Northern, Blue Mountains, and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines – overnight from 11pm Saturday to 5.30am Sunday, buses will replace trains between Strathfield and Central. Passengers may have to change trains to complete their journey. T1 North Shore Line trains start and end at Wynyard. T1 Western trains run between Richmond and Leppington.
• T4 Illawarra Line – Buses will replace trains between Cronulla and Sutherland. Trains will run between Waterfall, Sutherland and Bondi Junction.
• Due to trackwork at Central, platforms 1-12, most Blue Mountains Line trains run to Blacktown, and Central Coast & Newcastle Line trains to Strathfield only.
Thursday 26 – Monday 30 December
• T1 Western, T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West, T5 Cumberland, T7 Olympic Park, and Blue Mountains Lines - buses will replace T1 and T2 trains between Parramatta and Olympic Park. Blue Mountains Line trains start and end at Blacktown.
• Trackwork may affect how passengers travel on these lines, so they are advised to plan their trip. Most Central Coast & Newcastle Line trains run to Strathfield only.
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and South Coast Line – on Sunday 29 December from 1pm to 4pm, trains will not stop at Wolli Creek. Buses will run between Sydenham, Wolli Creek and Arncliffe.
• T6 Bankstown & Lidcombe – Buses will replace trains between Bankstown and Lidcombe on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 December.
Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 January
• T1 North Shore, T9 Northern and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines – Buses will replace trains between Berowra and Hornsby on the T1, Hornsby and Strathfield on the T9, and between Newcastle Interchange and Hornsby on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. T1 North Shore Line trains will run between Hornsby and the City.
• T2 Leppington & Inner West Line and T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line – on Sunday 29 December from 6:20am to 10:30am, buses will replace Inner West trains between Ashfield and Central.
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line – on Saturday 28 December from 4am to 11:30am, buses will replace trains between Waterfall and Sutherland.
• South Coast Line – on Saturday 28 December from 3am to 11am, buses will replace trains between Port Kembla and Wollongong and between Dapto and Sutherland. Trains will run between Bomaderry, Kiama and Dapto. On Sunday from 2:30am to 9:50am, buses will replace trains between Bomaderry and Wollongong.
Trains may run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern. Passengers are encouraged to allow extra travel time and plan ahead by visiting transportnsw.info/alerts or using trip planning apps.
For the latest traffic updates and to plan your trip, download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
Parramatta Light Rail
The new Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 opened today connecting Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, with a two-way track spanning 12km and 16 light rail stops.
Services on the L4 line will be every 9 minutes in the peak between 7am to 7pm, and 12-16 minutes in the off-peak on Monday to Friday; and on weekends every 12 minutes in the peak between 7am to 7pm and 16 minutes in the off-peak.
A public safety campaign is continuing to remind the community to stop, listen and look around when driving, walking, or riding near the tracks. This includes not driving on or queuing across the tracks, bike riders crossing the light rail tracks in a straight line, and pedestrians only crossing at dedicated crossings.
Events
Carols in The Domain: Up to 30,000 attendees are expected at the 42nd Carols in The Domain event on Saturday 21 December. Roads within and around The Domain Sydney will close between 8pm and 11.30pm. The best way to get to the event is by public transport. Martin Place, Town Hall and St James are within close walking distance of the event.
Those needing to drive or planning to catch rideshare or taxis, should allow extra travel time as traffic will be heavier than usual on roads approaching The Domain Sydney. For more information click here.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix: The Wanderers will take on Wellington in the men’s A-League this Sunday at CommBank Stadium kicking off from 5pm. Fans are encouraged to catch public transport with travel on all modes including in match tickets. Parramatta Light Rail will be running from Westmead to Carlingford, with extra services to and from the game between Westmead and Prince Alfred Square. Catch light rail services to the Prince Alfred Square stop and continue on foot to the stadium or walk from Parramatta train station. For more information click here.
Sydney Hobart Yacht Race: The annual Boxing Day Sydney Hobart Yacht race will set sail from Sydney Harbour on Thursday 26 December, exiting between Sydney North and South Heads to continue the voyage to Tasmania. Crowds are expected to gather at popular vantage points between North and South Heads including Manly, Mosman, Vaucluse and Watsons Bay. Traffic may be heavier than usual in these areas and special event clearways will also be in effect on some roads - drivers should check signs carefully to avoid being towed.
Ferries will be affected by a Harbour Exclusion Zone from 12pm to 2.20pm on the day, to safely facilitate the yacht race. Buses will replace F1 Manly Line ferries from 12pm to 2.45pm, while F7 Double Bay and F9 Watsons Bay ferries will not run during the exclusion time. Spectators are encouraged to plan their trip and consider all the available travel options ahead of time. For more information click here.
New Year’s Eve: Hundreds of thousands of revellers will descend on Sydney Harbour for the world-class New Year’s Eve fireworks on 31 December.
For more details click here.
International Test Cricket: Australia v India: Thousands of fans are expected to see Australia take on India in the New Year’s Cricket Test Match at the SCG from Friday 3 to Tuesday 7 January 2025. Fans are encouraged to catch public transport with travel included in match tickets. Extra light rail services will run to and from Moore Park each day.
Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual, particularly on the first 3 days of the test where the largest crowds are expected. Fans needing to drive should allow plenty of extra travel time and arrive early to secure parking. Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in place on roads in the area - drivers should check signs carefully to avoid being towed. For more information click here.