Extra train services on New Year’s Eve

Coasties planning to head to Sydney for New Year’s Eve celebrations will benefit from a major boost to Sydney Trains services.

More than 1,000 additional rail services will be in place from New Year’s Eve to 5am on New Year’s Day, a 40 per cent increase on a normal weekday.

The New Year’s Eve operation will proceed after the Combined Rail Unions formally withdrew key industrial action in the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday, December 24.

Sydney Trains and NSW Trains have been working through those union commitments over recent days to get the network back on track.

The bumper 46-hour timetable will run from 4am on December 31 through to 2am on January 2, with 5,800 services across the entire network.

Sydney Trains will run additional services across most lines from 2pm on New Year’s Eve, with frequent services after the midnight fireworks.

On the Central Coast/Newcastle line,services arriving at Central between 1pm and 11pm will be increased to eight carriages.

To help Coasties return home from festivities in the city, additional services to Newcastle Interchange will leave Central at 10.18pm, 11.18pm,.12.18am, 1.18am, 2.18am, 2.50am and 3.18am.

Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins said widespread road closures and parking restrictions would in place from early on New Years’s Eve, making public transport the best option.

“But it’s essential to plan ahead, work out your options and be aware that the city is different on New Year’s Eve, with very large crowds, road closures and entry cut-off times at some vantage points to watch the fireworks,” he said.

Most of the ever-popular vantage points around the harbour will not be ticketed this year and will open at various points during the day – meaning people can secure spots on a ‘first in, best dressed’ basis and spectators are encouraged to arrive early to avoid missing out.

Check the Sydney NYE website before heading out and during travel for the latest updates on vantage points.

Once vantage points are full they will be closed.

Collins said customers should be aware of road and station closures that could necessitate a change of plans for their journey, especially those heading towards the Circular Quay precinct.

“There will be limited transport options to Circular Quay from mid-afternoon,” he said.

“From 2pm buses and light rail services will not run to Circular Quay.

“Buses will end trips at Martin Place while light rail services will end trips at Town Hall.

“From 3pm trains will not stop at Circular Quay.

“The last ferries arrive into Circular Quay around 5.30pm.

“Event goers heading to the harbour will need to catch transport to nearby Wynyard, Martin Place or Town Hall and continue on foot.

“Also Barangaroo Metro Station will be closed from 5pm and reopen at 11.45pm to allow for the safe movement of people around the inner harbour precinct.”

On the harbour, some ferry wharves will begin closing from as early as 10am, with all ferries to stop running by around 5.30pm.

Limited services will run after the midnight fireworks.

Approximately 3,600 Sydney Trains staff will work across the network on New Year’s Eve, to help the million-plus crowd expected to flood into the city’s vantage points have a safe and reliable public transport trip.

The new Sydney Metro from Tallawong to Sydenham will support the city’s heavy rail for the first time this New Year’s Eve, alongside thousands of extra high-frequency train, bus and light rail services across the whole transport network to bring hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders and visitors into the city and home again as the new year ticks over.

For New Year’s Eve travel advice, visit transportnsw.info/sydney-nye