Transport enthusiasts rise on board the Sydney Metro City’s first train between Chatswood and Sydenham

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Hundreds of thousands of Sydney commuters are taking the city’s new train line, after weeks of delays. The first services of the Sydney Metro City line have departed this morning, looked on by train enthusiasts waiting to climb on board.

Transcript

00:00In a major overhaul of the Sydney public transportation system, the Metro line from Chatswood to Sydenham

00:08has opened to commuters today.

00:10The Minister for Transport has lauded the move, calling it one of the biggest steps

00:14in infrastructure in decades.

00:16Here is a bit of what she had to say earlier.

00:18This is an incredible day for our city and means that more people will be able to choose

00:23public transport more often and that means it is absolutely cementing our city as a truly

00:28great global city.

00:29This is the biggest change to the way our city moves since the Harbour Bridge has opened.

00:34This train will be able to carry more people than the Harbour Bridge and the tunnel combined

00:39during the peak hour and really takes the pressure off the rest of our public transport

00:44network, particularly the busy T1 Northern line.

00:47The opening is a long awaited one.

00:49It was supposed to open two weeks ago but it was delayed when the National Rail Safety

00:53Regulator didn't tick off in time.

00:56Approval for the $21 billion line was given last week and authorities announced that it

01:01would open to commuters this morning.

01:04There has been many excited train enthusiasts here at Chatswood this morning taking photos

01:09and videos of the new Metro line and taking the chance to get on board.

01:13We spoke to a few of them here at Chatswood station today and on the train, take a listen.

01:17It really does not affect us in the slightest but it's still super exciting to have this

01:21like new thing open.

01:24It's definitely awesome.

01:25It definitely cuts down a lot of time between Sydney to get to the northern side of Sydney

01:29and the northwest.

01:30I think my favourite part would be from city to Chatswood because that part always annoys

01:34me because how time consuming it is and how curvy the line gets.

01:38There is some real excitement today as customers get accustomed to this new Metro line but

01:44they are being warned to check the website and plan ahead.

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