Metro trips climb towards pre-pandemic levels as people return to Macquarie Park

New analysis from Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District shows more people have returned to Macquarie Park by Metro this year than at any point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trips at Macquarie University, Macquarie Park and North Ryde Metro stations in 2023 have so far been higher than the same period in the past three years, and are on track to recover to 2019 levels - when Sydney Metro first began servicing our area.

Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District reviewed Opal data from Transport for NSW, which counts each time a passenger uses one of our local stations.

2023 has seen a significant increase in trips to our area compared to 2022, which was the first year without lockdowns and significant health restrictions.

The news comes as workplaces around the world seek to settle their ‘new normal’, and increase the number of employees returning to in-person collaboration.

General Manager at Connect MPID, Mark Ames, spoke to the value of these findings:

“This new analysis from the Connect MPID team suggests activity in Macquarie Park continues to recover strongly”

“There were two significant lockdown dips in both 2020 and 2021, before a slow and steady recovery during 2022.”

“But 2023 has really taken off, with monthly patronage at our Metro stations significantly higher. August was just 8% lower than in 2019.”

“It’s great to see people enjoying everything our area offers and returning to Macquarie Park innovation district so strongly.”.

Macquarie Park will receive an additional boost in 2024 when Sydney Metro services extend, connecting our area direct to the city for the first time with a journey time of just 18 minutes from Macquarie Park to Barangaroo.

Connect MPID’s new report, “Get ready for more Metro, Macquarie Park!” identifies the anticipated impact of Sydney Metro services expanding in 2024, including our area’s new 30-minute commuter catchment area.