Epping to Chatswood Railway Line - Opening Day

THE State Government will give away free tickets on the Chatswood to Epping rail line for 100 days.

Despite the 12.5km line, which opens to passengers today, being almost $1 billion over budget and almost three years late, the Government said the fare amnesty was a good investment.

Up to 12,000 complimentary passes a day are expected to be used on the new line, costing a projected $1 million in lost fares.

The move to encourage commuters on to the line, which was marred by controversy during construction, could fend off the sort of embarrassment which plagued the Cross City and Lane Cove tunnels, which initially failed to meet targets.

Three new stations, in Macquarie Park, Macquarie University and North Ryde, will open today.

A spokesman for Transport Minister David Campbell said free rides would help lure northwest Sydney commuters out of their cars and on to the new line.

The line is expected to take 7.1 million passengers each year but will not make a cent until the $7.60 return fare is introduced on June 8.

Premier Nathan Rees this month asked for the fare amnesty.

"The fare-free period is to celebrate the opening of the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link and the benefits it will deliver across the CityRail network," Mr Rees said yesterday.

"We want to encourage everyone to try out this impressive railway."

He will ride the first service at 10am this morning with a group of hand-picked railway workers.

Passenger services will commence at 11.05am from Chatswood and the first train from Epping will leave at 11.16am.

Shuttle trains will make the 17 minute each way trip, meaning passengers will have to change trains for onward journeys until the new line is integrated with the CityRail timetable later this year.

The long-awaited opening follows a series of dramas, starting with the scrapping of a promised section between Epping and Parramatta.

A section of the line under the Lane Cover River was deemed too steep for Tangara trains and recently noise levels inside carriages were found to be as loud as a landing jet aircraft.

Parts of the track needed to be replaced because of a bungle.

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[Pkmnster]

Better late than ever and no doubt travel from the city (chswood) to suburban sydney (epping) will be much faster. Unfortuneately how many escalators are there....you took 3 min just to get out of the undergorund at least:(

[MediaWatcherOz]

At Epping & Macquaire Uni there are three escalators. When leaving the train, one to the ticket gates, then two up to ground. Only one elevator from ticket level to ground.

Takes 5 minutes to get down via the escalators to the train level.

[elsongs]

Hey! I rode this from Macquarie University to Chatswood in March '09 during my visit to Australia! It was still free at the time! Nice clean and modern stations!

[LALALAyellow21]

its not even noisy --"

i take it everyday .....

[LIdaguo]

Epping to Chatswood railway line

[Crosshead1]

I couldn't agree more. I was amazed when I got off the train at Macquarie Uni. and couldn't find a direct undercover link to the Macquarie Shopping Centre. But then it's only half the rail line it was supposed to be (Parramatta - Epping - Chatswood) so what should we expect. I was also surprised by how loud the tunnels were, even in Oscar sets which are generally pretty quiet. It all could have been so much better.

[locogrib22]

Thanks fo putting new line on YT

[newtaste46]

At Macquarie Uni it is stupid that they didn't put in an underground or undercover link to the Macquarie Centre. When it rains you will get wet when going from the train to the bus.

[unytaustralia]

Epping is 2 platforms isn't it?

Looks a little different to the design of the other stations (excl Chatty). Thought it would of been the same. Looks like a long way up to get to the concourse at Epping.

Looks good though.