Significant Disruptions: Major Rail Shutdowns and CBD Marches This Saturday

Overview for Saturday, 28 March 2026

Commuters and weekend travelers across Greater Sydney should prepare for a day of significant transport disruptions. A combination of essential Sydney Metro testing, extensive rail maintenance, and a major public march in the CBD will necessitate early planning and extra travel time. Authorities are urging the public to utilize the extra light rail services being deployed to mitigate the impact of the City Circle rail closure.

Major Rail and Metro Shutdowns

The most substantial impact on public transport today involves the Sydney Metro and the City Circle. These closures are part of critical testing and maintenance programs designed to prepare the network for future expansions.

• Sydney Metro M1: No metro services will run between Macquarie Park and Victoria Cross. A dedicated fleet of replacement buses is operating between Macquarie University and Victoria Cross to bridge the gap.
• City Circle and CBD: Trains will not run on the City Circle or between Central and Wynyard stations. Travelers heading into the heart of the city should look to use the L2 and L3 Light Rail lines, which have scheduled additional services to handle the increased passenger load.
• T1 North Shore Line: Buses are replacing trains between Hornsby and Milsons Point. These buses will also make a stop at the Victoria Cross metro station to assist those transferring from the north.
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra: While services are running, trains will not stop at Town Hall. Passengers should alight at Central or Martin Place and use local bus or light rail services.
• Regional Alerts: On the Southern Highlands Line, buses will replace trains between Goulburn, Moss Vale, and Campbelltown until approximately 4:50 pm.

CBD Road Closures and Events

Motorists should avoid the Sydney CBD where possible due to the Greek Independence Day March. The procession is scheduled to move from Hyde Park toward Circular Quay, resulting in rolling road closures and significant traffic delays on major corridors including Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets.

• Oxford Street: Ongoing roadworks at the intersection of Oxford Street and Flinders Street continue to affect westbound traffic, with lane one currently restricted to bus use only.
• M7 Motorway: While major resurfacing for the M7-M12 integration project was scheduled overnight, some residual lane restrictions may remain near the M7-M12 interchange until 8:00 am. Northbound and southbound motorists should remain alert for changed speed limits.

Commuter Advice

If you are traveling today, the best strategy is to leave the car at home and utilize the light rail for CBD movements. For those in the northwest, allow at least 30 to 45 minutes of additional travel time if your journey involves the replacement bus services between Macquarie University and the city. Always check real-time digital displays at stations for the most current departure information.