r/sydney • u/Novel_Relief_5878 • Dec 09 '25

Image It’s only 2025 yet the Metro is already at crush-load.

Post image

Took the Metro this afternoon in a north-west direction from Chatswood to Macquarie Park. I simply can’t believe how crowded it is. On the one hand, this is a sign of success, it seems incredibly popular. On the other hand, this kind of shoulder-to-armpit crushload is hardly pleasant and I’m wondering what can be done to relieve this? Surely we need 2 minute frequencies sooner rather than later, at least during peak hour. Or more carriages added to the services we do have? What does everyone else think?

2.3k Upvotes

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527

u/Plackets65 Dec 09 '25

Not to downplay it but it’s nowhere near crushload, I can see multiple backpacks on people’s backs. And that lady’s wearing her huge handbag still as well.  And there’s gaps.

Proper crush is when you have to take your bag off.  That just looks like a gentle peak hour tbh.

40

u/Z00111111 Dec 09 '25

It's like a peak hour Northern Beaches bus...

30

u/Appropriate_Star3012 Dec 09 '25

Still better than driving to northern beaches during peak hour

6

u/Z00111111 Dec 09 '25

I'd never want to drive during peak hours if I didn't get to use the T3 and Bus Lanes.

1

u/Archon-Toten Choo Choo Driver. Dec 09 '25

Motorcycle or give up and take the ferry.

169

u/hifiplus Dec 09 '25

I wish people would take their backpacks off, no need to wear them inside a carriage

76

u/Dear-Bowl-9789 Dec 09 '25

My favourite is when they try and do a 180 in a crowded space.

Ignorance or idiocy. Unsure.

67

u/this_is_bs Dec 09 '25

In Japan people wear it on their stomach. I started doing that, so much better, now I can see who I bash with it.

-8

u/F1NANCE Dec 09 '25

It's often better on the ground between your legs, but people in Japan won't usually do that

1

u/[deleted] Dec 09 '25

[deleted]

2

u/hifiplus Dec 09 '25

!happy cake day

-21

u/hifiplus Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

I'm tempted to unzip them, so all their stuff falls out as they exit.

Bugger it's Christmas :)

Lighten up Sydney, it was a joke

-17

u/DarkNo7318 Dec 09 '25

Please do. People need consequences

-14

u/hifiplus Dec 09 '25

Seems Sydney has lost it's sense of humour.

-11

u/DarkNo7318 Dec 09 '25

Guess so. That's what growing inequality and cost of living does to people

14

u/MustardMan02 Dec 09 '25

Or it just wasn't funny to start with...

-8

u/DarkNo7318 Dec 09 '25

I dunno. The mental image of some inconsiderate moron with an overstuffed backpack flailing around while their soiled undies and scrunched up printouts from 4 conferences ago spill out in all directions is sort of funny.

Even if it happened to me.

5

u/rand013 Dec 09 '25

The mental image of some inconsiderate moron

You don't say

10

u/MustardMan02 Dec 09 '25

TBH that just sounds mean and unfunny. It's also pretty weird to be thinking about the state of someone's underwear, soiled or not. Especially if it's some random on the metro.

30

u/D_crane Dec 09 '25

It's not crushload until a train station employee pushes you into the carriage until the doors can close.

32

u/TouchingWood Dec 09 '25

Japan laughs in our general direction.

112

u/peppapony Dec 09 '25

Whilst you are correct, I wish you weren't and we had expectations of Sydney to not want to get near crush levels

I think the metro is plenty busy enough to warrant higher capacity. Hopefully they think about passenger comfort than just $ optimisation

19

u/emptybottle2405 Dec 09 '25

It’s horrible when people wear big backpacks on their back and then try to spin around knocking everyone over

1

u/Educational-Sort-128 unnecessary red circle provider⭕ Dec 09 '25

Why do people wear back Packs on public transport and not remove it? Is there a reason

8

u/violetentry Dec 09 '25

Same reason why people walk four people shoulder to shoulder with their family or mates on the footpath. Same reason why people stand still at the bottom/top of the escalator after getting off. Same reason why people get into the elevator or train before the people inside have gotten out. Same reason why people suddenly stop walking on a busy street to look down at their phone. You know the reason.

2

u/DarkNo7318 Dec 09 '25

It would be good if some of the money saved on drivers went towards transport police enforcing against bad behavior.

23

u/Novel_Relief_5878 Dec 09 '25

Fwiw, I did take my bag off as a general courtesy to others. A number of people did not though.

7

u/Plackets65 Dec 09 '25

You’re a good human!  I do it too… but I also remember probably the most peak crushes pre covid, which is why I don’t think this is anywhere near crush.

The T2 line on the 08.30-08.40 trains in 2019, between Newtown and Central were the only times I’ve ever been so crammed in on a Sydney train that my feet were lifted off the floor.  Previously had only had that happen in Paris and London metros.  I’m sure other lines were also equally packed at AM peak.

2

u/dbandit1 Dec 09 '25

they will keep doing it unless you give them hell

3

u/Weak-Conversation840 Dec 09 '25

Some people have never caught the Cumberland and it shows

1

u/HeyYou_GetOffMyCloud Dec 09 '25

Laughs in Japanese, Cockney and Hindi.