'Absolutely ecstatic': Metro finally arrives at 130yo train stations - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Hundreds of people have turned out to mark the opening of the Southwest Metro line, which cost just under $23 billion.

Services are expected to run every four minutes during weekday peak times and every five minutes outside those times.

For two years, commuters used pink replacement buses while the works were completed.

The Southwest Metro has finally opened to Sydney commuters.

Public transport enthusiasts, early commuters, politicians and other officials rode the first 13-kilometre passenger service from Bankstown to Sydenham, which arrived at 4:31am.

This comes after more than two years of passengers being forced onto replacement pink buses as the 130-year-old heavy rail T3 Bankstown line was converted into a metro line.

The city and south-west line has been plagued by cost blowouts with the final cost just under $23 billion, while the Sydenham to Bankstown extension took more than a year longer than initially forecast.

The 10 stops along the line from Marrickville to Bankstown have been completely transformed, with automatic glass platform doors installed and tracks and corridors upgraded.

Member for Bankstown Jihad Dib cut the ribbon to open the new metro, saying the service would make a "massive difference" to residents.

"For the first time ever, our community feels like we're getting the best stuff in Sydney," he said.

"We're thrilled, we're excited, we're absolutely ecstatic at today's first run of the south-west Sydney Metro.

"It's open to the travelling public, and people were lining up from 3:30am [today], which goes to show you just what a difference this will make to our local community."

Hundreds woke early to ride the first service on the new Southwest Metro line. (ABC News)

Commuters can expect services every four minutes during weekday peak hours and every five minutes outside those times.

On weekends and evenings, services will operate every 10 minutes.

Commuters can expect services to run every four minutes during weekday peak hours. (ABC News: Julia Andre)

The promised faster journey will save commuters travelling from Lakemba to Victoria Cross up to 24 minutes, while the journey from Marrickville to Gadigal is expected to be halved to 12 minutes.

Commuter Abdullah was lined up outside Bankstown station ahead of the first service and said he was ready to take the full 66-kilometre trip finishing at Tallawong.

"Most of us here are public transport enthusiasts," he said.

"I know that the bus replacements for the past two years have been quite crappy.

"We're all celebrating, we're all happy".

Jing Hean Yang says he shares a birthday with the new metro line. (ABC News: Julia Andre)

Jing Hean Yang celebrated his birthday with a trip on the first metro service.

"I've got the same birthday as the Bankstown line, so this is an official birthday gift for me. Thank you for that, Sydney Metro," he said.

"So many people were singing birthday on the train for me, this was a really unforgettable first day [on the new metro] for me."

William Hodge travelled from Dulwich Hill to Bankstown, to catch the 4:31am service from the very first stop.

"I've really wanted to do this since I moved out to Dulwich Hill and I thought why not be on the first train?" he said.

Progya Das, who commutes from Bankstown to Pyrmont for work, said she was looking forward to enjoying a bit more sleep in the morning and the faster commute.

"It takes me one and a half hours … I checked the schedule, and it's probably going to cut me half an hour," Ms Das said.

"The news that the metro is opening, it's very exciting."

Progya Das from Bankstown will enjoy a shorter commute to Pyrmont with the metro. (ABC News: Declan Bowring)

She said she wouldn't miss the pink buses, though she admitted they ran on a good schedule every day.

"I feel like the metro is going to be so much quicker," Ms Das said.

Sujan Sharma, who travels from Campsie to Gadigal station daily, said he could spend more time with his children by helping with school drop-off in the morning and preparing dinner in the evening.

"I can see the commute time is already all the way down to 20 minutes," Mr Sharma said.

Commuters were pushed onto replacement buses for close to two years. (ABC News: Declan Bowring)

The government said the new metro will increase capacity by 50 per cent compared to the old T3 line.

Before opening the national safety regulator required that six platform and train doors at stations along the route, at Dulwich Hill, Canterbury, Campsie and Marrickville, remain closed because of concerns about wide gaps at curved platforms and the mechanical gap-fillers, pending further checks.

"It's clearly signposted so there's going to be no confusion," Transport Minister John Graham said.

Mr Graham said testing had otherwise gone well, with reliability improving and performance better than on the heavy rail network.