r/SydneyTrains Jun 09 '26

Monthly Sydney Trains Thread - June 2026

2 Upvotes

Monthly Thread - FAQs & Discussions

Anything related to employment, late running or general discussion should be posted in this thread.

Disclaimer

This sub is NOT AFFILIATED with The NSW Government, TfNSW, or Sydney Trains. You should provide feedback directly to them at Transport NSW Feedback .

General FAQs

I've been overcharged by Opal, what do I do?

  • You need to contact Opal to request an adjustment / refund. This typically takes 24 hours.

Do Suburban trains have toilets?

  • The Suburban trains do not have toilets on them. The OSCARS ( H Set) do have them however they are locked off when operating within the Suburban Network. (Note: While some OSCARS are now part of the Suburban Sets, they haven't all had their toilets removed yet)

Where can I apply to work for Sydney Trains?

  • The I work for NSW page has regular job postings for Trainee Driver, Trainee Guard, CSA, Cleaner and more.

How do I see what train / type is running?

Why is there a Waratah going towards Newcastle?

  • Both Millenniums (M Set) and Waratahs (A/B Sets) will travel either under their own power or loco hauled up the Main North to Cardiff where they undergo heavy maintenance that cannot be completed in Sydney.

Are quiet carriages not a thing anymore? Why don't people respect them?

  • Quiet carriages on the Suburban Network are not a thing. On the intercity side they do exist however the general population don't always adhere to it. Yes, it is very frustrating, but there are worse things to be upset about.

What is happening with the K Sets ?

  • With the conversion of the OSCARS (H Set) slowly happening, K Sets will slowly be pulled from service and scrapped. As of 19 April 2026 there are only 2 timetabled runs on weekdays. These are: 38-- & 39--.

The platform indicators are upside down, why?

  • Occasionally they do get messed up, either through human error or software glitches.

What are some good Trainspotting locations?

  • Passenger trains: Central, Redfern, Strathfield, Lidcombe
  • Freight trains: Concord West, Homebush, Flemington, Sydenham, Rhodes

Trainee Driver/Guard/Misc FAQs

What can I do to prepare for video / panel interviews?

  • Research the STAR method online and practice in front of a mirror at home to so on the day you aren't as nervous. SPACE behaviours is another subject to look up as it is part of the Sydney Trains corporate plan.

I've applied for a role but it says talent pool, what does this mean?

  • While you may get through all the application process and pass the medical, it does not guarantee you have a position yet. It is highly recommended you not leave your previous job until you've got a start date in writing. Many people are in the talent pool and you can be waiting weeks, months or even a year for a position to become available.

What does the Vieple (Video Interview) contain?

  • The Vieple Video interview usually contains a set of different questions, each giving 30 second prep and 60 seconds to record a response.
  • No, you cannot redo these. It is important you practice ahead of time.
  • No, the questions aren't the same for each interview.

What can I do to help prepare for interviews / general advice for any role?

  • Focus around safety, communication, people skills, problem solving and dealing with failure (resolution). Dress professionally (smart/office wear) for your interviews as well as your video portions.

What does the typical schedule for a Trainee Driver look like?

  • Day Zero (Your first day): Orientation at Petersham and general introductions / get to know you.
  • Month 1 to 2 (approx): Typically 0800 to 1600 at Petersham in a classroom environment. Will consist of theory, practical and simulator use. Exams are both written and practical.
  • Month 3 to 13 (approx): Assigned with a Driver Trainer each fortnight, rotating to a different trainer every fortnight. You work from their Depot and shift times. This means you are required to travel across the network to commence work. (Note: A list of the Depots is listed below) After you have completed each Sector, you will be required to complete both written and practical exams.
  • Final stage: Once you have finished all 3 Sectors and passed all exams, you will need to pass a final practical assessment. This is over a 2 day period, it will include everything you've learned throughout training. You MUST pass this exam in order to become a Qualified Driver.

What happens once you become a Qualified Driver / Guard?

  • After taking up, you will be placed at Central Depot and allocated a Line Number. Each fortnight you will rotate through the various lines and work the associated times and days of that line. This is known as a "Swinger". (Note: See below for more information about Rostering/Lines)

What are the medical requirements for Train Crew?

  • You need to be able to pass a CAT 1 Medical for Driver or a CAT 2 Medical for Guard, there is information online for what this involves. Sleep apnea is now a more common talking point as the national guidelines for rail safety work has been updated.

How long do you typically wait after completing the medical?

  • This can takes days or weeks depending on how busy things are. It is also done through a 3rd party which can impact time.

Does having pre-planned holidays affect training/talent pool?

  • You will need to disclose any holidays you've got pre-planned before starting training. This may affect your start date. Discuss this with your hiring coordinator.

What are the different Unions and are they worth joining?

  • RTBU – Operational Rail/Tram/Bus, focus on pay/safety/conditions
  • ETU – Electricians/Signallers, Training/Support
  • PSA – Admin/Back-office roles, pay/conditions
  • PA – Engineers/Designers/Surveyors, professional advocacy
  • Most people join (90–95%), typically from Day Zero at Petersham.
  • Benefits: support person, legal representation, picnic day, workplace allowances, employee travel card (specific to RTBU).

Typically Day Zero at Petersham there will be an info session with a union delegate where you can ask questions and join if you desire so.

Qualified Driver/Guard FAQs

What are the Sectors / Depots of the Suburban Network?

  • The Suburban Network is divided up into 3 Sectors. There are 13 Train Crew Depots spread across the Network. See below;
Sector Area Depots
Sector 1 Illawarra Mortdale, Cronulla, Waterfall
Sector 2 City, Inner West, SouthWest Auburn, Flemington, Leppington, Campbelltown
Sector 3 North & West North Sydney, Hornsby, Blacktown, Richmond, Penrith
All Sectors Suburban Network Central

What are the penalty rates / loading for working specific times / days?

Day Loading O/T (1st 2nd) Shift O/T (3rd 4th Shift)
Monday to Friday 100% +50% +100%
Saturday 150% +50% +50%
Sunday 200% +50% +50%
Shift Work Loading When
Early Morning Shift Commences at or between 0400 and 0530
Afternoon Shift Commences after 1000 and concludes after 1800
Night Shift Commences at or between 1800 and 0359

How does rostering work once I'm qualified?

  • After you have taken up, you will be based at Central Depot as a Swinger. You are allocated a line and then work the times of that line as per the Master Roster. Each fortnight you rotate through each line and follow the times / workings of said line. Each line for a swinger has a time on the Master Roster, eg 1000 SBY, however when receiving your actual fortnightly roster, this can swing +/- 2 hours. So you could be starting 0814 one day and 1157 the next.

Can I swap lines / shifts?

  • Yes, you can; however, this is all coordinated privately between crew then pending approval by Rosters at Burwood.

How do transfer work?

  • Transfers within the Suburban & Intercity Depots are all based off of Seniority. This mean those who have been on the job longer have the higher priority when applying for depot transfers. Each year you can apply for one or more depots. Based off of how many open positions at any given time in the year, they work down the list of those who have their name down for it and offer them the position. Some depots, like Waterfall and Blacktown, have extremely long waiting times due to their popularity and limited positions. (Note: There is no fixed time period, it all fluxuates based on positions available)

r/SydneyTrains 20h ago

Why do people feel offended when asked to move when taking the 3rd seat on the train

127 Upvotes

Why do people feel offended when asked to move when taking the 3rd seat on the train

People are ok with sitting side by side on 2 seater but always frown when asked to scoot to allow 3rd person .

Had the experience today where the couple literally rolled eyes ( girl has to take her bag on her lap) when asked to move.
To clarify - girl at window ,boy in middle and me at the aisle.

Seen this happen many times specially during peak hours and have seen people prefer to stand rather than take the 3rd seat.


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

Leaked T4 stopping patterns - Oct 2026 timetable change

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82 Upvotes

Thoughts on the leaked T4 timetable change for October 2026?

Some thoughts of my own:
- The peak hour pattern is a smart balance and good way of increasing frequency. I’d have every second South Coast service stop all stations Waterfall to Sutherland so these commuters can at least access a half hourly express service. I’d also potentially add Jannali or Mortdale to some of these services to add an express service to these stops, given they would already be running slower through Sutherland and Hurstville.
- The interpeak one needs work. Should introduce an additional half hourly Bondi to Hurstville all stations service, and take some of the stops Redfern to Hurstville off the Cronulla services.
- Really hope these timetable changes will flow to the weekend too. The half hourly service at stops like Oatley, Allawah, Carlton, Banksia and Arncliffe seriously needs to end. I actually think this current interpeak timetable / stopping patterns would work well as a weekend timetable.


r/SydneyTrains 9h ago

Endeavour train from central

6 Upvotes

Just asking:

If I take a 2 car endeavours train from Central Station, can I tap on & off by using opal card or I need to buy a ticket at the counter/online?

P.s. I never travelled before with this type of train.

Thanks for answering this question.


r/SydneyTrains 17h ago

Favourite train set seats?

7 Upvotes

What’s your ranking of seat types based on different sets?

For me, OSCARs and converted G sets have the comfiest seats, then probably the standard A B and M seats, with the single direction T set seats coming in last.


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

My completely uncosted idea for a north–south transport spine through the middle of Sydney

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50 Upvotes

This idea has been rattling around in my head for a while, so I finally tried putting it on a map.

To be clear, this is purely a thought experiment. It hasn’t been costed, engineered or assessed for property, environmental or geological constraints. The alignments are also very approximate. I’m mainly interested in whether the broader transport corridors make sense.

The concept has three main parts:

  1. A new north–south motorway and heavy-rail corridor A largely grade-separated motorway connection running from Heathcote through the middle of Sydney to NorthConnex. Alongside it, or within the motorway median, would be a fast, limited-stop heavy-rail line running from Heathcote to Hornsby. It would interchange with the existing east–west rail and Metro corridors, providing a way to travel between northern, western and southern Sydney without passing through the CBD.
  2. Converting the T6 Lidcombe and Bankstown Line to light rail The existing T6 corridor could potentially be converted to light rail and extended north from Lidcombe through the Carter Street precinct and Sydney Olympic Park, connecting with Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 around Wentworth Point. This would likely require an underpass or short tunnel around John Street at Lidcombe before transitioning to surface-running light rail.
  3. A new southern light-rail connection to Olympic Park A new light-rail corridor running from the Hurstville and Brighton-Le-Sands area through Belmore and continuing north to Sydney Olympic Park. The aim would be to create a direct north–south connection between these suburbs, rather than requiring passengers to travel towards the CBD or make several changes.

I’m interested in what people who know Sydney’s transport network better than I do think:

  • Do any of these corridors have genuine merit?
  • Where should the major stations and interchanges be?
  • Would light rail have enough capacity, or would Metro, heavy rail or bus rapid transit be more suitable?
  • Could combining a motorway and railway corridor make construction more achievable?
  • Which part is reasonably sensible, and which part belongs firmly in the fantasy-map bin?

Happy to have the idea pulled apart. That is partly why I’m posting it.


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

The transit system in this city is literally unusable Spoiler

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46 Upvotes

This would never happen in Europe/Japan. It's about time that the govt sorted this sorry organisation out!


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

how do you cope with this

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110 Upvotes

How is it that the trains can almost never go a full week without some sort of significant issue.

Standing on glenfield platform for the last 30 minutes, all trains constantly getting pushed back or cancelled.
Updates on vandalism at ingleburn /minto with no end in sight.

Actually hopeless service.
Thinking of literally ruining myself financially to move into another suburb just to avoid this constant crap

Fully expecting people to respond “I don’t”. Let me join your ranks. Tell me where to move to.


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

Australian Rail projects are more expensive because they are different projects

57 Upvotes

The tldr: Building under Central & the city is expensive with many European countries doing these investments decades ago.

I just looked at the projects in Spain and France they're comparing to. They're comparing the costs of line extensions & orbital lines with fresh lines that go through a dense cbd.

Metro West would also be way cheaper if it didn't go into the cbd but that would defeat the entire point. Fun fact, Metro West Extensions will be much cheaper than this stage of the project!

The Amsterdam North south that also crosses a harbour is nearly identical in costs to Sydney Metro NW by km! Because they also had to build a big station in the cbd and tunnel underneath.

If all the metros were down the M4, M7, M12 etc. They would be much cheaper but they would SUCK.

Much of Perth's lines being cheaper is also because they're mainly converting old freight rail which Sydney has already done or old reservations that we do not have.

If we also look at many of the new lines being built in Europe, many are also orbital lines that don't go into the cbd which means the tunnelling and station construction is a lot cheaper.

SRL East in Melbourne for example will be much cheaper to tunnel but then the costs massively increase because it's an entirely new system that doesn't get to piggyback off existing infrastructure and since every station is an interchange, interchange stations are much more expensive to build than a regular station

These costs are also why when we see transport 2056 and whatever other documents have come after, there aren't really any plans to build more lines directly into the city but just extend what we have + Parra - Kogarah


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

Any updates on Mariyung D sets doing the peak hour North Shore runs on the CCN line?

12 Upvotes

From what I heard last year the target was middle of 2026+- which we are well into, so just curious if we are hopefully close to the replacement of OSCars still doing those CCN peak hour runs via the North Shore.

Pretty sure I saw D set stop markers at Chatswood so fingers crossed!


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

The English-world is TERRIBLE at building transit. This is why.

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112 Upvotes

Building Beautifully nails it again.


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

Why are most metro bathrooms gendered despite being only for 1 person

95 Upvotes

I believe this is common in most if not all other metro stations, but in crows nest, the bathrooms each only fit 1 person each and they are all identical. The bathrooms marked as male don’t have urinals and have changing tables as well. So why not just label them all as unisex?


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

We need a surcharge

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0 Upvotes

For people boarding between Hornsby and Chatswood and alighting at Martin Place or Gadigal


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

Why doesn’t the government just get more feeder local buses to the stations? Instead of those massive car parks

130 Upvotes

NO amount of car parks is going to be sufficient.

Leppington car park was full in mornings, not even 1.5 years after opening. Same with tallawong, glenfield.

EVEN if they put in another 1500 car park space in leppington, not enough. There’s going to be 6000 extra homes in austral alone.

The solution is buses. What we need is frequent local buses going to every single train station.

If those bus routes take an hour, 45 min, people won’t use them.


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

NSW Government, Metro look to offload huge inner-west landholding

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71 Upvotes

The mega parcels surrounding Sydenham station – listed on realcommercial.com.au as Proposed lot 61, 11 Sydenham Road and proposed lots 71 and 72, off Sydney Steel Road – are offered by Colliers’ Trent Gallagher and Michael Crombie.

The land is underpinned by E4 General Industrial Zoning with no height limits, and sits adjacent to Sydenham metro station and Marrickville Metro shopping centre.


r/SydneyTrains 1d ago

Metro Train from Tallawong arrived to Sydenham Platform 1

0 Upvotes

Uh, I was going from Central to Sydenham to see the metro train to see the train arrive into Platform 2 at Sydenham and then film it go straight to Bankstown afterwards. They say this will start from the 14th July 2026. But tonight at around 7:58pm, the metro train I got arrived to Sydenham Platform 1 and terminated there and then go back to Tallawong. Apparently it was a lie from what I saw myself.


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

New 1100-vehicle car park to be built at busy north-west Sydney Metro station

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66 Upvotes

Commuters who endlessly circle Tallawong station looking for a car park every morning can breathe a sigh of relief after the announcement of a multi-storey car park in the area.

The north-western metro station has languished with an overflowing, single-storey car park since opening in 2019, forcing commuters to search for a spot in surrounding suburban streets.

A new multi-storey car park to fit 1100 vehicles is due to be built in the area, and the NSW government hopes its construction will help support the rapidly growing area.

Overall, the government is investing $160 million into car parks along the metro, including building another storey on the existing multi-storey car park at the Hills Showground, adding up to 100 spaces.

The car parks are intended to get cars off residential streets and ease the commute of those already taking the metro every day.

Despite commuter concerns at already overcrowded trains, the government has insisted the new parking spots will not lead to a spike in demand.

Many of the early trains from the north-west are standing room only at peak hour despite a lack of parking spots.

Last year, data showed multiple stations across the metro line had exceeded expected patronage already, with the extension between Sydenham and Bankstown yet to open.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the parking spots were being built to meet the demand at Tallawong, where all parking spots were usually taken before 8am.

“Not enough car parks were built to cater for the demand which is now on Metro northwest, and we expect that to further increase as more people move into the area.”

“We understand this is a challenge for commuters who may have no option to drive to the station, and the 1200 additional parks should make it easier.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said commuters in the north-west “deserve better than starting off their mornings circling around for a parking spot.”

The new car spots will be integrated into Transport for NSW’s Park&Ride system, which gives commuters 18 hours of free parking each day when they catch public transport.

The investment forms part of a broader government strategy to improve commuting options for residents, including changes to bus schedules and increasing metro capacity.

Metro trains completed the first end-to-end journeys along the entire line between Bankstown and Tallawong during testing last weekend, and the long wait for the troublesome link between Sydenham and Bankstown is scheduled to end in October.

The railway has also been officially handed over to its operator, Metro Trains Sydney, and end-to-end operations will be progressively added during higher patronage periods over coming weeks in the lead-up to final trial runs and regulatory safety approvals.

The government says the south-west extension of the line will deliver capacity for an extra 17,000 people per hour during peak periods.


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

Wt28 and wt27 not showing in anytrip

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0 Upvotes

Wt27 or wt28 not showing in anytrip only way it will
Show if you type in wst


r/SydneyTrains 2d ago

The T# etc allocation

11 Upvotes

Hey Team

How long has the T# allocation been around for on Sydney's Network

I was thinking of doing some basic Posters just to put up at home to match the Light Box that is for sale with the Mode Lollipops/Roundels

But wanting to make a few, The only one im certain of is that now the T6 changed colours when its "service" was reallocate after the closure of the Carlingford Line

And I also want to Say the T2 was Originally Green and was the line that went down to Macarthur (am I right, Im not sure ???)

Are there any others and if so has anyone got a reference I can use say 200X to 200Y was this batch?

I had thought about also doing the Ferry network too + the others but the M and L are more modern so known at this point


r/SydneyTrains 4d ago

They are now starting to be more specific on who is causing the disturbance

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695 Upvotes

This was on the 4:48 am central to Newcastle service


r/SydneyTrains 4d ago

16, broke, got caught not tapping on my Opal card. Need advice, not judgment.

395 Upvotes

A while ago, ticket inspectors checked my Opal card and found that I hadn't tapped on. Before anyone judges me, I'm 16, I'm broke, and I have to catch the train to get to school.

The problem is that I can't always use my School Opal card because it stops working after 7 pm. I usually have to stay at the school library to study and finish assignments because I don't have Wi-Fi or mobile data at home, so I often can't leave before 7 pm.

I only travel two train stops, but even that fare adds up over time. I'll be honestI haven't been tapping on because I simply can't afford to pay every day.

When the inspectors stopped me, they took my name and address. I thought about giving fake details, but I was too nervous to do it. In the end, they sent a warning letter to my house instead of giving me a fine, which I'm grateful for.

I'm worried about what might happen if I'm checked again in the future. I keep thinking of different scenarios in my head like speaking gibberish till they go away or etc but I'm scared that if I handle it the wrong way, things could escalate and I could end up with a bigger fine.

I'm just looking for advice, and I'd really appreciate it if people didn't judge me. I'm trying to manage a difficult situation, and I genuinely don't have much money.


r/SydneyTrains 4d ago

Old relic!

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258 Upvotes

Was clearing through some old crates of possessions of my late grandfather who loved trains. This stood out- a completely unused tea towel of the network map. The latest date I can imagine this is from would be before the passenger services to sandown ceased in the 90s, but I have a feeling it’s way older. If there are any dead giveaways on the year this may be from please share your thoughts! Crazy to see how much the map has changed since then


r/SydneyTrains 4d ago

R on plat 16?

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82 Upvotes

Is this just normal testing or will there be services that run through the city and up north . .


r/SydneyTrains 4d ago

Sydney Metro testing at Canterbury

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240 Upvotes

r/SydneyTrains 4d ago

When did the manly ferries get security?

26 Upvotes

When did the F1 manly service get security officers patrolling the boat. Not opal inspectors, not police officers but a 3rd party security firm. They mainly told people to keep feets of seats, no smoking and no jumping in the front of the ship

When was this introduced?