CBD Security Closures and T4 Line Disruptions Impacting Thursday Commute

High-Security Operations Impacting CBD and Eastern Suburbs

Commuters heading into the Sydney CBD this morning, Thursday, 12 February 2026, should prepare for significant disruptions due to an ongoing major police operation and security framework. High-level security measures surrounding a VIP visit have necessitated rolling road closures and exclusion zones across the central city and various Eastern Suburbs, including Darling Harbour and Watsons Bay. These restrictions are scheduled to remain in place until approximately 2:00 PM today.

A critical change for public transport users involves bus services that typically terminate at Circular Quay. Until the 2:00 PM reopening, routes 304, 333, 343, 392N, and 396 are ending their inbound trips at Martin Place (Elizabeth Street, Stand C). Outbound services for these routes are commencing from Elizabeth Street, Stand E. Passengers needing to travel between Martin Place and Circular Quay are advised to use the City Circle trains or the Light Rail, which remain operational through the area despite the surface-level road closures.

T4 Illawarra Line: Buses Replace Trains

Passengers on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line face significant travel changes today. As part of planned midweek trackwork, buses are replacing trains between Sutherland and Hurstville. This disruption is expected to add at least 20 to 30 minutes to standard journey times. Express train services are running on some sections of the line, but commuters should check the latest timetables as stopping patterns have been altered to accommodate the bus bridging services. Trains continue to run between Cronulla or Waterfall and Sutherland, and between Hurstville and the City, but the central gap requires a transfer to replacement buses.

Major Roadworks and Arterial Delays

Several key arterial routes are also affected by scheduled roadworks ending or continuing today:

• Regentville: Work on the Mulgoa Road upgrade continues, with changed traffic conditions and potential delays on the M4 Motorway off-ramps until later today.
• Arncliffe: Resurfacing works on the Marsh Street on-ramp to the M5 Motorway are scheduled to conclude today, which may cause congestion for those heading toward the airport or the M5 East.
• Seven Hills: A new phase of maintenance has commenced on the Prospect Highway between Brumby Street and Lucas Road. Expect reduced speed limits and lane merges.

Commuter Strategy

Given the combination of security-related closures in the city and rail disruptions on the T4 line, Sydneysiders are urged to allow significant extra travel time. Motorists should avoid the CBD core if possible until after 2:00 PM and utilize real-time navigation apps to bypass cordoned areas in the Eastern Suburbs. Public transport users should verify their connection times via the Opal Travel app before departing.