Major Security Closures and Nightly Metro Testing Impacting Wednesday Commute

Significant Disruptions Expected Due to Major Police Operation

Commuters and motorists are advised to prepare for significant delays and road closures across the Sydney CBD and Eastern Suburbs this Wednesday, 11 February 2026. A major planned Police Operation, which began on 8 February, continues through to Thursday, 12 February. This operation has necessitated the closure of several key thoroughfares and the implementation of special event clearways in high-traffic zones.

Affected areas include the Sydney CBD, Bondi, Queens Park, Darling Harbour, and Watsons Bay. Motorists should anticipate sudden diversions and a heavy police presence. In particular, the Rocks and Circular Quay areas are experiencing restricted access, which is impacting local delivery schedules and morning peak-hour flow. If you are travelling to the city or the Eastern Suburbs, it is strongly recommended to allow at least 30 to 45 minutes of additional travel time.

Public Transport: Nightly Metro Testing and Bus Diversions

Public transport users will also face changes to their usual routines today. Due to essential testing and commissioning for the Southwest Metro extension, nightly trackwork will affect the M1 Line. From 9:50 PM tonight, metro services will not run between Central and Sydenham. During this window, metro services will only operate between Tallawong and Martin Place, and between Martin Place and Central. Passengers needing to travel between Central and Sydenham are advised to use Sydney Trains services as an alternative.

Bus commuters should be aware of significant stop changes and diversions, particularly around Circular Quay. Because of the ongoing police operation, several bus stands have been temporarily relocated. Check local signage or digital displays at the Circular Quay bus interchange before your journey to ensure your route is running from its usual departure point.

Motorway Maintenance and Regional Alerts

On the roads, scheduled maintenance is impacting the M8 Motorway. Work is currently underway between the St Peters Interchange and King Georges Road in both directions. These works, which run through to Thursday, 12 February, may result in lane closures and reduced speed limits during the evening and overnight periods.

For regional travelers, NSW TrainLink has confirmed that coaches will replace several services on the North Coast and North West lines. Specifically, coaches are replacing train services between Muswellbrook or Scone and Sydney today. Passengers are encouraged to check the latest timetables as coach travel typically takes longer than rail. To avoid the worst of today's congestion, commuters are urged to use the Trip Planner and monitor real-time updates via official transport apps.