It was the opening day of the new extension of the Metro – the line between Sydenham and Chatswood. I was keen to try it out. I met Sue at Sydenham, and we spent quite a few hours on the line, travelling all the way to Tallawong, then back, visiting many of the new stations along the way. Later in the evening, I met up with John and his two boys for a trip up to Chatswood and back.
I met Sue at 10 am at Sydenham. This was after the crowded peak hour, and well after the first train, packed with ferroequinologists much earlier.
Our train was not too crowded as it left Sydenham.
Another train was approaching.
And here you can see the switches for the stables (Trains Facility South) –
And now we are about to enter the Marrickville Dive –
In the tunnel, there are no overhead wires, the pantographs are resting against a busbar.
The train goes around 100 km.hr through the tunnel.
We are now at the northern portal at Chatswood –
And now, much further north west near Bella Vista – there the railway leaves their tunnel and goes along a skytrain.
And this mini “Anzac Bridge” is just before Tallawong.
At Tallawong, we got off the train, let it leaves, then waited till the next one arrived.
And back onboard –
The portal of the Chatswood Dive –
We then got off at the new Crows Nest Station.
Here we found a cafe for lunch. Then back down to the station.
We then travelled back under the harbour and got off at Barangaroo.
Then back on again, bound for Martin Place.
It took us a while to work out the right way to go to connect with the old station.
Each station features some artwork –
We got back on, and then stopped next at Gadigal –
And then Central –
It was interesting seeing the contrast with the old parts of the station. After a coffee break, we got back on, heading for Waterloo –
I farewelled Sue and headed home. But later, in the early evening, I joined John, jasper and Seby for another visit. Back at Sydenham –
We went all the way to Chatswood, where we stopped for a meal. Then on the way back, we visited Victoria Cross Station –
And getting back on – we noticed this problem with the destination monitor –
The new section of the metro will be a grea time saver to me, as I often travel to Chatswood, Macquarie Park or Epping by public transport.