New train services will change commuter patterns - for better, for worse

Last week’s ministerial media release announcing the start date for a new rail timetable includes the headline “Biggest service boost in a decade for South Coast passengers”.

On analysis, it’s clear there will be significant improvements when the changes take effect on Sunday, November 15.

Conversely, thousands of commuters will be disadvantaged, with longer travel times and less convenience for people wanting to get to the airport or their jobs in Sydney’s CBD.

Opal data reveals just how many passengers will be inconvenienced, having to change trains at Central when wanting to travel on towards the CBD stations and Bondi Junction.

Let’s start with the good news.

The new timetable will provide peak services between Wollongong and Sydney every 15 minutes – up from 20 minutes. Off-peak and weekend services will be doubled, running every 30 minutes on average, up from a service every 60 minutes.

More than 200 additional weekly services will include a shuttle every 15 minutes in the 8-9am peak hour from the northern suburbs to Wollongong, and additional local services will operate between Wollongong and Thirroul.

Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Ryan Park says “with these timetable changes, passengers will also benefit from more Mariyung trains on the line, delivering a more comfortable and accessible travel experience for communities across the Illawarra and South Coast”.

While there will be plenty of winners with next month’s changes, thousands of commuters will face more stops, longer journey times and inconvenience, having to change trains when travelling beyond Central and to domestic and international airports.

In May, the Flame reported on the frustration that changes to services would have on the large number of Illawarra commuters who travel to and from the airports.

The introduction of the new timetable means South Coast passengers who travel to Wolli Creek or the airport stations will be required to interchange at either Sydenham or Sutherland to make the Wolli Creek connection. This will increase travel time and inconvenience people carrying heavy suitcases.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said this was the trade-off for “untangling the South Coast and T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra lines between Arncliffe and Central”.

Regular commuter Dawn Peacock of Woonona said such changes were “not acceptable”. She petitioned Keira MP Ryan Park, raising concerns about the inconvenience facing the hundreds who travel to the airports from the South Coast each week. Despite the commuter protests, including from the South Coast Labour Council, the connection with the airports creates a new challenge.

Data from Transport for NSW reveals the large passenger numbers that travel regularly from the Illawarra to Central and beyond.

In response to questions, a spokesperson said: “When developing the train timetable, Transport for NSW considers what will deliver the best outcomes for the majority of passengers.

“The new Mariyung trains are too long to be turned around at Bondi Junction station and therefore cannot operate on the Eastern Suburbs Line. This means when the timetable is introduced… all South Coast Line services will operate to and from Central station platforms 1-14.”

This means daily commuters who would normally travel beyond Central to jobs close to Town Hall, Martin Place, or onward towards Bondi Junction will need to change trains at Central. This is expected to add around six minutes to their journey each way. For five-day-a-week commuters, that’s an extra hour for their journeys each week.

How many South Coast commuters will be inconvenienced? We asked Transport for NSW specifically about the impact on peak-hour commuters who need to travel beyond Central station.

The response is telling. A Transport for NSW spokesperson said during March 2026, for the morning peak (6am to 10am), “the average daily passenger trips from the South Coast area stations are 1243 to Town Hall and Martin Place, 76 to Kings Cross, Edgecliff and Bondi Junction and 661 to Central”.

This means from an average daily peak from the South Coast to Sydney, exactly two-thirds (66 per cent) of passengers will no longer be able to continue their journey beyond Central, instead having to transfer to another train.

Spread out across the day, the spokesperson said “during March 2026, the average daily passenger trips (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) from South Coast area stations are 1297 to Town Hall and Martin Place, 89 to Kings Cross, Edgecliff and Bondi Junction, and 1586 to Central”.

That equates to 47 per cent of regular passengers who will be inconvenienced by having to change trains at Central to complete their journeys.

Data shows that returning home to the South Coast from Sydney, while still showing significant inconvenience, won't affect commuters as during the morning trip.

The Transport spokesperson says for the afternoon peak (3pm-7pm) during March 2026, “the average daily passenger trips travelling to South Coast Line area stations are 695 from Town Hall and Martin Place, 43 from Kings Cross, Edgecliff and Martin Place, and 941 from Central”.

As a result, 44 per cent of commuters returning home to the Illawarra in the afternoon peak will have to change trains when they arrive at Central.

Opal data for Saturdays reveals significant inconvenience for South Coast commuters.

Transport for NSW says the new timetable will allow passengers to stop at Sydenham to access city-bound Metro services or change at Central to access rail stations between Town Hall and Bondi Junction.

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said: “Workers, students and families in the Illawarra have been asking for better train services, and we’ve listened.

"This new timetable delivers more services across the network and new stops that connect individuals and communities to jobs, education and each other.”

Transport for NSW says customers are encouraged to plan ahead and check Trip Planner before travelling when the new timetable comes into effect.