Sydney's new metro line has a launch date
NSW reveals opening date of long-awaited Southwest Metro line
The conversion of the T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham began in September 2024. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
In short:
An open date has been set for the long-awaited Southwest Metro after a two-year project to replace the 130-year-old line.
The first driverless service is expected to depart early morning on Friday, October 30.
It is hoped the new service will cut travel time with connections including from south-west Sydney to the CBD.
The long-awaited Southwest Metro extension now has an opening date, after extended works to replace the 130-year-old train line.
NSW Premier Chris Minns says it will officially open with the first service departing at 4:31am on Friday, October 30.
On the new metro service, commuters will be able to cut down on travel time, connecting the south-western suburbs to the Sydney CBD, north-Sydney and the north-western suburbs.
From next Friday, the NSW government says passengers will have access to trains every four minutes during weekday peak hours in Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville.
"The new Metro will deliver 50 per cent more passenger capacity than the old T3 Bankstown Line it replaces, along with faster journeys and direct connections to more jobs, education and opportunities across Sydney," a spokesperson said.
The opening was delayed until 2026 due to the project's complexity and industrial action. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
They also said services would run every five minutes during the day, and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on weekends.
On the first weekend, between October 31 and November 1, services will increase to accommodate increased interest.
Mr Minns said it was an investment that would "make a real difference" to communities for "generations to come".
"This is about giving people in south-west Sydney the same fast, reliable public transport connections that other parts of our city enjoy," he said.
Station improvements and line upgrades
The new metro line runs from Sydenham to Bankstown. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
About 48,000 trips are expected to be made across the metro line on a typical weekday during the 8am and 9am peak.
Upgrades include platform screen doors, new lifts and station upgrades, updated customer information systems and enhanced security technology along the line.
Improvements have also been made at stations to improve accessibility for prams and people living with a disability, with accessible lifts at Wiley Park, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Punchbowl and Canterbury for the first time.
The T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown ceased operations in September 2024 to convert the 130-year-old heavy rail line to a metro line.
The Sydney City and Southwest Metro station under construction at Martin Place in 2020. (ABC News: Rachel Pupazzoni)
During that time commuters were forced to take replacement buses, known as the Southwest Link, making travel time twice as long.
The conversion deadline was pushed back due to industrial action and complexity issues. It was initially meant to take 12 months.
It is the final stage of Sydney's M1 Metro North West and Bankstown Line, which will connect Bankstown to Tallawong along a 66-kilometre stretch.