Metro services through the Sydney CBD are in sight, following a major testing milestone ahead of services starting on the Sydney Metro City & Southwest line later this year.
All 45 metro trains in the current fleet have now completed at least one return journey between Tallawong and Sydenham at operational speed.
Preparations are now underway for the next major phase of testing – trial running, which is expected to begin in the coming months.
Trial running is the last stage of testing before the launch of the new metro line, where network operator Metro Trains Sydney will run a series of timetable running and operational tests.
Each train stopped at every station during the 51-kilometre journey to confirm train and platform screen doors performed as designed. Passenger help points and information displays on the trains were also put through their paces.
The performance of each train is being monitored closely to ensure passengers can look forward to the new turn-up-and-go metro timetable of a train every four minutes during peak periods.
Extensive integration testing is continuing between the Metro North West Line and the new City section to ensure the trains, signalling and station systems are working together and functioning seamlessly along the length of the line.
Since the rigorous testing and commissioning program started in April 2023, more than 8,700 hours of a total of 11,000 hours of required testing has been completed.
When world-class metro services extend beyond Chatswood and into the city this year, passengers will benefit from direct, fast and reliable public transport services with record travel times in the peak, including from:
- Martin Place to Crows Nest in 7 minutes
- Sydenham to Macquarie University in about 30 minutes
- Central to Chatswood in 15 minutes
- North Sydney’s Victoria Cross in North Sydney under the harbour to Barangaroo in 3 minutes
The extension of Metro services from Sydenham to Bankstown will be the next stage of Sydney Metro’s transformation.
The T3 Bankstown Line will be closed for the 12-month conversion in order to deliver turn-up-and-go metro services every four minutes by late 2025. A comprehensive temporary transport plan, including alternative bus and rail services, will be released in the coming months.
The closure of the T3 Bankstown Line will not occur until the new City section of the line is providing a reliable service for commuters from Sydenham into the CBD.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:
“World-class metro services into the heart of Sydney’s CBD are within reach as testing ramps up.
“Commuters from Tallawong in the North West to Sydenham in the inner west can look forward to easy and reliable turn-up-and-go metro services every four minutes in the peak.
“From the middle of this year, our city will be served by six brand new metro stations, giving commuters more travel options than ever before.
“As we hit a critical stage of integrating the existing Metro North West line with the extension under the CBD, I want to thank the community for their patience. There’s no doubt weekend testing is inconvenient and challenging, but the long term benefits of this line will be a real game changer.”