NSW Major Train Line Closes for 9 Weeks

by Dylan Anderson

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Founder @ CarExplore

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March 31, 2025

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3 min read

Passengers on Sydney’s T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line are being urged to plan ahead, with the shuttle service set to close for nine weeks from 27 April to 29 June 2025 as part of critical rail upgrade works for the Sydney Metro Southwest project.

During this period, fare-free replacement buses will operate in place of trains to ensure continued access for the approximately 11,000 daily passengers who rely on the line.

Why the T6 Line Is Closing

The closure will allow major construction works to take place, including:

Extending platforms at Bankstown Station to support 8-car trains (currently limited to 4-car sets)
Track layout changes for improved operational flexibility
Signal upgrades to integrate with the future Southwest Metro

When complete, these upgrades will double the capacity of the T6 line and improve overall network integration.

Stations Affected

The following T6 stations will be closed during the works:

Yagoona
Birrong
Bankstown

Passengers at Lidcombe, Berala, and Regents Park can continue to access alternate rail services via the:

T1 Western Line
T2 Inner West Line
T3 Liverpool via Regents Park Line

There will be no service changes to these lines.

Replacement Bus Services

To support commuters during the closure, two fare-free replacement bus routes will run between Bankstown and Lidcombe:

8T6: Stops at all stations between Bankstown and Lidcombe
8AT6: Express between Bankstown and Lidcombe

Passengers can interchange at Lidcombe and Regents Park for other rail connections or switch to the pink Southwest Link buses at Bankstown, which will continue operating between Sydenham and Bankstown as normal.

Support for Commuters

Transport for NSW will roll out a comprehensive communications campaign, including signage, station announcements, and staff on the ground to assist affected passengers.

Minister for Transport John Graham acknowledged the disruption:

“This is a relatively small shuttle line by passenger numbers, but the loss of services for nine weeks will be disruptive for the passengers who use the T6 Line. We will have fare-free rail-replacement buses in place and marshals on the ground to ensure all passengers can continue to get where they need to go.”