Precautions for Travelling on the Metro
Sydney Metro is the railway operator of the Government of New South Wales, Australia, wholly owned and operated by the government. That is to say, It is the first metro in Oceania to come into operation, with one route currently in operation and two more planned. The first phase of the first route opened on 26 May 2019 and is operated by Sydney Metro Trains, a subsidiary of MTR Corporation Limited. The second stage is under construction.
Sydney Metro trains are driverless single-deckers, unlike the double-deckers of the City and NSW Railways, using the Alstom Metropolis.
The Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project. By 2030, Sydney will have four metro lines, 46 stations, and 113 kilometres of new metro tracks.
Sydney Metro Lines and Major Stations
Sydney Metro is currently operating its first line, Line 1, which includes two phases.
Stage 1: North West Line (Sydney Metro Northwest)
Stage 2: Sydney Metro City & Southwest
Sydney Metro Northwest
Construction of the Northwest Line began in 2013 and opened on 26 May 2019 at a cost of A$8.3 billion. The line terminates at Tallawong and begins at Chatswood. The line is shown in emerald green on the Sydney Rail Map.
As a result of Sydney Metro adopting an updated system compatible with driverless trains, the Epping Chatswood Line closed part of the platforms at the three intermediate stations on 30 September 2018 for seven months of alterations and upgrades to the facilities and will reopen on 26 May 2019, along with the rest of the North West Line.
Sydney Metro City & Southwest line
Construction of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest Line began in 2017 and is expected to be completed and open in early 2024. The line is 30 kilometres long and has 19 stations. The south-western terminus will be the current Bankstown station, while the northern end at Chelsea will connect to the already open North West Line.
In addition to Line 1, there are two other lines currently being planned:
Line 2 (West): The Sydney Metro West is a metro line being planned and announced by the New South Wales government in 2016. in Parramatta, with the eastern terminus in the centre of Sydney.
Western Sydney Airport Line: The railway serves the new Western Sydney International Airport and the Western Sydney Air City. It opened in conjunction with the start of airline passenger services. Construction begins in late 2020.
Sydney Metro Operating Hours and Timetables
The Sydney Metro operates from around 5:00 am to 1:00 pm every day, with a frequency of about 10 minutes. You can refer to the official Sydney Metro website for the frequency and timetable.
Tallawong – Chatswood
Chatswood – Tallawong
Types of Metro Tickets and Fares in Sydney, Australia
How fares are calculated
Sydney Metro fares are calculated based on zone and distance. The fares will vary depending on the line you travel on and the stations you pass through. However, whichever line you are travelling on, you will need to swipe your card or load your ticket into the card reader in the station lane when you enter the station, and you will need to lift your card or load it into the card reader when you exit the station as well. The fare will change depending on the area you are travelling in and the number of stations you pass through.
Types of Metro Tickets
One-Time Ticket: Also known as a “single ticket” or “round-trip ticket,” this is for passengers who need to make a single trip, and the fare is more expensive than using an Opal card. There are adult, child, and student tickets and free tickets. The price of an adult ticket varies depending on the station and distance. Child tickets are half the price of an adult ticket, and student tickets go by station and student status.
Opal Card (Sydney Public Transport One Card): This is a prepaid card for Sydney Metro, bus, light rail and coach transport. You can get discounts and free transfers with the Opal Card.
Passengers can purchase an Opal card from a metro station or kiosk for AUD$10, of which AUD$5 is a deposit. That is to say, you can top up your card to utilise the amount available or set up an automatic top-up feature to ensure you always have enough money on it.
Opal Card Metro Fares
Adult Fare
Child Fare (4-15 years old)
Senior Citizen Fares
Opal Transport Card Advantages:
Opal card has no card fee; you can keep one on you in case of emergency.
Staggered Travel 30% Off: If you avoid the morning rush hour, you can enjoy a 30% discount, the peak hours are: Mon – Fri 7 am – 9 am & 4 pm – 6:30 pm. In addition, all Saturdays and Sundays are also considered off-peak hours, and the cap on Sundays is $2.80.
Weekly Ride Bonus: After 8 paid rides in a week, all rides in that week are free.
Daily Caps: The maximum travel fare for a single day is $15 for adults, $7.50 for children and $2.50 for seniors and pensioners.
60-minute interchange: if you interrupt your journey and continue within 60 minutes, you will only be charged the fare once.
How to Top up Your Opal Transport Card:
Top up via the Opal Travel app
Top up on the Opal website
In addition, you can find Opal top-up machines at Sydney Metro stations, train stations, light rail stations and some convenience stores where you can top up with cash or card payments. Also, you can buy it from some shops and agents to top up.
Australian Sydney Metro Travelling Process
Step 1: Understand the metro line
Before travelling on the Australian metro, you need to know the signs of the metro and how to travel. The routes and station signs of the Australian Metro are relatively uniform, which can be determined by looking at the road signs or asking the staff in the station.
Step 2: Purchase Ticket
You can buy metro tickets or Opal cards at the counters and vending machines in the metro stations, and the price will be slightly different for different types of tickets. You can pay by credit card so that you can buy according to your situation.
Step 3: Swipe your card to enter the station
Before entering the metro station, you need to put your Opal card on the gate; after passing through the gate, you can enter the metro station.
Step 4: Taking the Metro
In the metro station, you can check the train’s arrival time and the station’s name; you need to pay attention to the station’s name and the direction when you take the train.
Step 5: Exit the station
When you arrive at your destination, get off the train after it stops and follow the signs inside the station to find the exit. At the exit, you need to put your Opal card on the exit gate reader to calculate the cost of the trip and deduct the money automatically.
Metro Riding Precautions:
- While travelling on the metro, you must remain calm and follow traffic and station safety regulations. When the metro arrives at the station, you need to get off quickly to allow other passengers to board.
- Check station maps and route maps to ensure that you are travelling on the correct line and in the right direction.
- Pay attention to train times and station opening times to avoid missing the start time or not being able to enter the station.
- The Sydney Metro has some travelling rules, such as no eating or drinking and no spitting, which you should follow in order to avoid disturbing other passengers.
- Remember to pick up the driver when you get on the train and stay alert. If you notice any suspicious behaviour, you can get off the train and call the police.
- In case of emergency, please press the emergency call button in the carriage or seek help from station staff.
- When entering the station, please ensure your card has sufficient balance or frequency to avoid being refused.
FAQ
What time does the Sydney Metro run?
The Sydney Metro operates from 5 am to 12 pm.
Which Australian Cities Have Metros?
Sydney Metro System: the Sydney Metro system is Australia’s most extensive urban rail system, which began operating in 2019. Currently, the Sydney Metro lines cover a wide range of directions, including north, south and west.
Melbourne Metro System: the Melbourne Metro system is Australia’s oldest metro system, which began operating in 1854. Currently, the Melbourne Metro system has 16 lines with a total length of over 200 kilometres.
Brisbane Metro: The Brisbane Metro system became fully operational in 1986. Currently, Brisbane Metro has three lines covering more than 40 stations.
Adelaide Metro System: The Adelaide Metro system started operating in 2017. The Adelaide Metro system currently has only one line covering the city centre and the southern region.
Perth Metro System: The Perth Metro system officially started operating in 2007 and covers 5 stations throughout the Perth city centre.
What is the Latest Time the Sydney Metro Stopped Running?
The metro generally stops running around 12 pm, but this varies from city to city.
