Arabic version: نيو ساوث ويلز تلغي تغييرات مزمعة لجداول خطوط T4 وT8 والساحل الجنوبي

According to ABC News, the NSW government has abandoned proposed timetable changes for the T4, T8 and South Coast rail lines after commuter opposition. The changes had been scheduled to start on November 15, less than a month after the government announced plans for more frequent services across southern Sydney and the South Coast.

Premier Chris Minns said the government had listened to commuters and local MPs and would not proceed with the plan. The existing timetable will remain in place. He said the government’s priority was to improve reliability and give passengers a railway they could depend on.

The proposed timetable was intended to add capacity and improve service frequency. Transport Minister John Graham had said reliability on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line was a real issue, with 200 additional weekly services planned. During peak periods, T4 frequency was expected to rise from one train every 10 minutes to one every 7.5 minutes.

However, some passengers faced longer or less direct journeys under the proposal. Wollongong travellers would have lost some direct Sydney Airport trips because of a planned Wolli Creek bypass, potentially requiring multiple changes. The T8 was also set to skip Sydenham, removing direct peak-time access for south-western passengers to St Peters, Erskineville and Redfern. Graham said the government would focus on reliability across the existing network while continuing work with communities on future improvements.