The rail line between Sydenham and Bankstown closed 14 months ago, hitting some 60,000 south-western Sydney residents with the new, grim reality of doubling their daily commute time.

Their pain was made tolerable by the prospect of the final stage of Sydney’s $29 billion M1 metro line opening in 12 months. It has not happened. Instead, it is likely they will have to stay on buses until next September before the train arrives.

It is likely that commuters in south-west Sydney will have to stay on buses until next September. Credit: Steven Siewert

The commuters probably could not be blamed for feeling the same sort of battle fatigue that North Sydney ratepayers are suffering as their flailing and cash-strapped council seeks their support for a jaw-dropping 54 per cent rate rise after the pricing regulator knocked back its application for an 87 per cent........

© The Sydney Morning Herald