Council calls for more bus services to reduce impact of rail shutdown

Last modified on 26 September 2022

Interchange

Willoughby City Council has called for the introduction of frequent and high capacity bus services to help alleviate the impact of a snap shutdown of northern Sydney train lines that is planned for the first week of October.

On 19 September, the Council was notified that the NSW Government would be closing the lines from Monday 3 to Friday 7 October.

During this period, the T1 North Shore Line will be closed between Gordon and North Sydney and Metro services will be closed between North Ryde and Chatswood.

In addition, the NSW Government has already announced that, on the weekend of 8-9 October, the T1 North Shore Line will be closed between Hornsby and Wynyard and the Metro line will be closed between Tallawong and Chatswood.

While rail lines are shutdown, works will take place to connect the Metro North West Line and Sydney Metro City & Southwest at Chatswood.

Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor said the Council was concerned about the short notice given for the line shutdowns, along with the fact the NSW Government had advised there would be “limited replacement bus services”.

“While the Metro extension into the city and beyond will provide a significant long-term benefit to the Chatswood CBD, the construction impacts do need to be carefully managed,” Mayor Taylor said.

“This shutdown will have significant impacts on the Chatswood CBD, which is home to around 25,000 jobs and 11,500 residents, along with our other important centres at Artarmon and St Leonards.

“These works will make it extremely difficult for tens of thousands of residents, commuters and shoppers to access these centres.

“As such, we will be urging the NSW Government to put more effort into alternate transport services and actions to allow our centres to continue to effectively operate and indeed recover from the effects of COVID-19.

“This should include frequent and high capacity bus services.”

In relation to the shutdowns, the Council has been advised that special event clearways, no stopping zones and bus zones will be in effect in Chatswood from 2-10 October.

More information is available at https://transportnsw.info/news/2022/trackwork-for-t1-north-shore-metro-north-west

At the same time as the rail line shutdowns, the NSW Government has also announced it will be putting significant road detours in place north of Artarmon to allow contractors for Sydney Metro to install a stormwater pipe.

From Friday 30 September to Friday 25 November 2022, Brand Street at Artarmon will temporarily be one-way (eastbound) between Hampden Road and Elizabeth Street.

This will lead to significant road detours and related potential travel delays in the area north of Artarmon station.

Motorists wanting to travel westbound along Brand Street will need to follow detour signs along Elizabeth Street, Mowbray Road and Hampden Road. Valetta Lane can be accessed via Federation Lane.

Pedestrians will need to use the southern footpath along Brand Street for the duration of these works. The walkway between Hawkins Street and Brand Street will also be closed for up to five weeks during this time.

More information is available at https://www.sydneymetro.info/sites/default/files/2022-09/Northern_Connection_Brand_Street_September%20_2022.pdf

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