Rail Service Improvement Program

As part of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, the former T3 Bankstown Line is being upgraded to metro standards between Sydenham and Bankstown. On 20 October 2024 Transport introduced a new train to integrate Sydney Metro City & Southwest with Sydney’s train network and support the closure of the T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

Across the network, this timetable adjustment has delivered over 800 additional weekly services, providing more consistent and more regular service levels at more stations.

The timetable changes support a more reliable network, allowing passengers to better plan their journeys and quicker recovery of the network if an incident occurs.

For stations west of Bankstown, train services that previously operated between Liverpool and the City Circle via Bankstown now operate via Regents Park and Lidcombe, maintaining a direct service to Sydney CBD. 

A new T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line train service now operates between Lidcombe and Bankstown to ensure passengers at Bankstown, Yagoona and Birrong continue to have access to a train service. Regents Park is the main interchange point for passengers travelling to Bankstown, Liverpool and the Sydney CBD.

Erskineville and St Peters stations continue to receive direct services to the Sydney CBD via the T8 Airport & South Line until these stations are moved to the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line permanently in a future timetable.

What was the More Trains, More Services program? 
The More Trains, More Services program was a multi-billion-dollar program designed to simplify and modernise the rail network.

Delivering the program was essential to integrate Sydney Metro City & Southwest with the heavy rail network in 2024 and enable the introduction of the Mariyung trains to the South Coast Line.

Why change the program from More Trains, More Services to Rail Service Improvement Program?
The change of name emphasises the NSW Government's commitment to providing improved and more reliable services for passengers. The goal of planned train network upgrades is to enhance service performance, whether it is through increased frequency, reduced travel times, or greater dependability; for this reason, the new name better represents the aims of the NSW Government and Transport’s priorities. 

When will the Rail Service Improvement program be delivered? 
The program recently delivered an adjusted timetable on 20 October 2024 and enabled the integration of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest into the heavy rail network and prepared the network for the introduction of new fleet (Mariyung and Regional Rail) on the Central Coast & Newcastle and Blue Mountains Line. 

Transport will continue to coordinate the next stage of delivery and engage with key stakeholders once the full program of work is finalised.

Following the introduction of the adjusted train timetable in 2024, the program is now focused on delivering improvements across our busiest lines, including T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra, T8 Airport & South and South Coast Lines.

Who is delivering the Rail Service Improvement Program infrastructure projects?
Delivery is already underway with a Next Rail partnership with John Holland & Jacobs delivering all projects from Central to Hurstville, while a Transport for Tomorrow partnership comprising of Laing O’Rourke & KBR are delivering all projects between Mortdale and Kiama.

What service improvements will be delivered in future stages of the Rail Service Improvement Program?
Following the introduction of the 2024 train timetable, the program is now focused on delivering improvements across our busiest lines including the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra, T8 Airport & South and South Coast Lines. A rail timetable review will inform the roll out of future train timetables, as well as identify service improvements to ensure we are getting the best out of the train network for passengers.
 
Transport will continue to coordinate the next stage of delivery and engage with key stakeholders once the full program of work is finalised.

Infrastructure improvements are being made across the network. These include modifications to track, signalling, stabling facilities and station platforms.

See below for more information about infrastructure improvements being delivered in your area.

• Sydney Terminal Area Reconfiguration Project
• Mascot Substation Project
• Mascot Station Access Upgrade Project
• Wolli Creek Substation and T8 Line Power Supply Upgrade
• Arncliffe Station Platform Canopy Extension
• Arncliffe to Tempe Signalling Upgrade
• Hurstville Crossover Project
• Kingsgrove to Beverly Hills Asset Rationalisation
• Mortdale Maintenance Centre Upgrade
• Waterfall Stabling Yard and Platform Extension Project 
• Wollongong Stabling Yard and Platform Extension Project
• Wollongong to Coniston Infrastructure Upgrade 
• South Coast Line:
  • Thirroul 
  • Bellambi 
  • Coniston 
  • Port Kembla 
  • Dapto 
  • Shellharbour Junction 
  • Kiama 
  • Albion Park 
  • Spring Hill 
  • Croom 
  • Kembla Grange
• Lidcombe Infrastructure Upgrade
• Sefton Park Junction Infrastructure Upgrade
• Newtown to Redfern Signalling Upgrade
• Homebush to Strathfield Signalling Upgrade
• Canley Vale to Warwick Farm Infrastructure Upgrade 
• Glenfield to Campbelltown Infrastructure Upgrade 
• Sydney West Overhead Wiring Upgrade

The first stage of the former More Trains, More Services program focused on boosting capacity through extra services, better infrastructure and new trains. This delivered extra weekly services in November 2017, including more express trains for Western and South-west Sydney and a range of benefits for passengers on the T1 Western, T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown, T5 Cumberland and T8 Airport & South lines. The program also delivered 41 new air-conditioned, eight-car suburban trains (Waratah Series 2) in response to growing demand.

In October 2024, under the Rail Service Improvement Program, an adjusted train timetable was introduced to integrate Sydney Metro City & Southwest with Sydney’s train network and support the closure of the T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown for its final conversion to Metro standards. Across the network, the timetable adjustment delivered additional weekly services, providing more consistent and more regular service levels at more stations. This change supports an improved network reliability, allowing passengers to better plan their journeys and quicker recovery of the network if an incident occurs. 

We have also upgraded rail infrastructure to allow the network to operate at an even greater capacity, including better signalling systems, power supply upgrades and station improvements.