From Chatswood you can get into the city over the Harbour Bridge or under the harbour.
The train takes the bridge. In the city it stops at Wynyard, Town Hall and Central.
The metro takes the tunnel under the harbour. It stops at Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal and Central.
So the stop you want decides which one you catch. For Central the metro is quicker, at 15 minutes against about 26 on the train.
Which platform at Chatswood?
- Platform 1: trains to the city, over the Harbour Bridge.
- Platform 2: the metro to the city and on to Sydenham.
- Platform 3: the metro out to Macquarie Park and Tallawong.
- Platform 4: trains north to Gordon, Hornsby and Berowra.
Platforms 1 and 2 share one island. Platforms 3 and 4 share the other. Each island has stairs, an escalator and a lift to the concourse.
Head for platforms 1-2 for anything going into the city. Head for platforms 3-4 for anything going north.
Look for the glass to tell the two sides apart. The metro edge of each island has screen doors, and the train edge does not.
The trains on platform 1 list where they finish, not the city. You will see Penrith and Emu Plains, and Hornsby via Strathfield. All of them go through the city first.
Metro or train into the city?
The metro from platform 2 calls at Crows Nest, then Victoria Cross in North Sydney. Then it runs under the harbour to Barangaroo and Martin Place. After that come Gadigal, at Pitt St, and Central. The 11am metro on a weekday is at Barangaroo at 11.09am and Central at 11.15am.
The train from platform 1 stops at every station down to Milsons Point, including North Sydney. Then it crosses the Harbour Bridge to Wynyard, Town Hall and Central. The 11.06am train on a weekday reaches Wynyard at 11.24am and Central at 11.32am.
Take the metro for Barangaroo, Martin Place or Gadigal. Take the train for Wynyard or Town Hall, or for the ride over the bridge.
Hornsby is on both sides
A train listed as Hornsby leaves from platform 4. Another one leaves from platform 1, and they are nothing alike.
The platform 4 train goes via Gordon and heads straight up the line. The 11.05am on a weekday is at Hornsby at 11.30am.
The platform 1 train goes via Strathfield. It travels through the city first and takes the long way round. The 11.12am on a weekday gets to Hornsby at 12.30pm.
Check the word after "via" before you step on.
How long will you wait?
You never need a timetable for the metro. It comes every 4 minutes in the weekday peak. In the middle of a weekday it comes every 5 minutes. At night and on weekends it is every 10 minutes.
The trains on platforms 1 and 4 run to a timetable instead. Check the live times before you leave, not once you are on the platform.
Getting home late
The metro into the city runs past midnight on most nights. Sunday is the one to watch.
- Monday to Thursday nights: the last metro leaves at 12.28am. The last train leaves at 11.51pm.
- Friday nights: the last metro is at 1.28am and the last train at 12.51am.
- Saturday nights: the last metro is at 1.26am and the last train at 12.43am.
- Sunday nights: the last metro is at 10.56pm and the last train at 11.51pm.
On a Sunday the metro stops first. If you miss the 10.56pm, the train on platform 1 keeps going for almost another hour. Walk across the island and catch that one instead.
Heading north instead? The last metro to Tallawong leaves platform 3 at 12.45am, Monday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday nights it is 1.45am. On a Sunday it is 11.15pm. The Park & Ride is at Tallawong.
Trackwork changes these times on some nights. Check the live times before a late trip home.
The practical stuff
- Staff are at the station whenever trains are running.
- Toilets are on the concourse, with an accessible toilet and a baby change room. They are open while the station is staffed.
- Lifts run from the concourse to both islands.
- Prams and suitcases go straight on the metro, which boards level with the platform.
- Bikes can be parked at the station, and there are bike lockers you can book online.
- Paying: tap on and off with your phone, or a credit or debit card. There are top up and single trip ticket machines too.
Two trains into the city leave from one island at Chatswood. Choose by where you are getting off, and check the "via" on anything going to Hornsby.