The NSW Government has announced an interim period of free public transport will connect Western Sydney International Airport when it opens its doors later in the year.
The free bus service, which the Government says will be in place to meet the first passenger flight that lands, will take passengers and airport workers to and from the new airport at Luddenham and St Marys train and bus interchange.
The interim service will provide the connection to the wider Sydney public transport network that will be delivered by the new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport when it opens next year.
“Australia’s newest international airport is going to be transformational for Western Sydney, and it is important to have connectivity to our public transport network from the moment the first bit of airline rubber hits the tarmac,” said Minister for Transport, John Graham.
“Free interim buses will give passengers and airline operators the certainty that an onwards journey on public transport is in place alongside the new M12 motorway for road access, taxis and rideshare, as we complete the equally transformational metro line between the airport and St Marys.
“While the free, interim buses will phase out when the metro opens, the new bus services between the airport and Penrith, Oran Park, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Mount Druitt and Leppington will be a permanent upgrade for public transport.”
The free airport buses will run every 30 minutes between 4.30am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 4.30am to 1am Friday and Saturday, with an expected journey time of about 30 minutes in normal traffic.
Transport for NSW says it will adjust frequency depending on demand as activity at the airport increases after opening.
The free airport buses will complement the Government’s comprehensive bus plan for Western Sydney, which is set to provide new services every 30 minutes linking the airport to Penrith, Leppington, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt.
These new services will begin prior to the airport opening and run every 30 minutes from 5am to 10pm, seven days a week, connecting people to local education and health precincts, retail and leisure.
The new 23-kilometre Metro line, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Government, will have capacity to move up to 7,740 passengers every hour in each direction.
“These services will offer an additional, essential transport connection for workers and passengers using Sydney’s new 24-hour international gateway, and complement the toll-free M12, ride share, taxis, tour buses and other private transfer services available, all of which will be supported by more than 6,000 car spaces at our precinct,” said Western Sydney International Airport CEO, Simon Hickey.
“We will continue to work with Transport for NSW to deliver the best transport options for our passengers that keep pace with the airport’s anticipated growth in demand over the years ahead.
“Critical transport investments can truly connect the west to the west and the west to the rest for the first time and deliver transformational economic opportunities that will benefit all of Sydney.”
Interim buses will be phased out when metro services begin.
The six-stop line will connect Western Sydney International Airport to St Marys in just 15 minutes where passengers can join services on the T1 Western Line that run direct to stations including Blacktown, Parramatta, Strathfield and Central Station.
Once complete, the new line will feature a rail and bus interchange at St Marys, with stops at Orchard Hills, Luddenham, Airport Business Park, Western Sydney International Airport and Bradfield.
Track laying on the line is now 70% complete and station construction reaching key milestones.
The toll-free M12 motorway that will link the airport to the Sydney motorway network is due to open in coming months before flights at the airport.
