After years of planning and construction, combined with endless patience from commuters, the final touches are being put on Southwest Metro with passenger services from Bankstown beginning tomorrow morning.
More than two years since the heavy rail line closed, there is now less than 24-hours until the historic first passenger service departs Bankstown Station at 4.31am, marking the start of the fully integrated metro service along the 66-kilometre M1 North West and Bankstown Line.
The Southwest Metro is a world first engineering achievement in retrofitting a 130-year-old heritage heavy rail line with fully automated driverless metro technology.
It sets a global precedent by integrating modern screen doors and custom mechanical gap fillers across a legacy corridor, combined with highly complex curved platforms.
Train enthusiasts and members of the local community are expected to turn out in force in the early hours of the morning to be among the first passengers on the new Southwest Metro.
With the major transformation of all 10 stations between Sydenham and Bankstown complete, and the project receiving approval from the independent Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator to commence passenger services, crews have been focused on the finer details to make sure the trains, stations and surrounding precincts are looking their best for opening day.
This includes preparation of Train Set 29, which will carry the first metro passengers on the Southwest line on opening day. It is the same train set that carried the first passengers from Sydenham on opening day on 19 August 2024.
Ahead of its next journey, the six-car train is today getting the opening day treatment.
That starts with a trip to the automatic train cleaner, a drive-through washing facility similar to a large automated car wash, that will use automated brushes and cleaning systems to remove dirt, dust and grime. Crews will then complete additional cleaning of the doors and front window, before beginning a deep clean of the train’s interior including the seats, walls and floors.
The decal stickers and onboard maps will be updated to show the metro now travelling through the Southwest stations to Bankstown.
The last stop for Train Set 29 is a full mechanical check. The team will inspect the wheels, suspension, brakes, doors, air conditioning and passenger information and communication systems to make sure it’s ready to welcome the first passengers on board at Bankstown.
Across the Southwest corridor more than 200 hours of deep cleaning has been completed alongside removing temporary fencing and installing new wayfinding signage and updated maps.
More than 6300 workers have delivered the transformation of the historic 130-year old railway line, bringing the stations up to modern metro standards while retaining important heritage features.
Upgrades include refurbished station buildings, resurfaced platforms, upgraded toilets, more than 2,000 new wayfinding signs, 790 CCTV cameras,145 passenger information displays, 360 platform screen doors and 170 mechanical gap fillers.
All Southwest stations are now accessible by lift, with five new lifts installed at Wiley Park, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Punchbowl and Canterbury Stations.
New and improved public spaces along the corridor include shared paths, landscaping, seating and plazas designed to provide safer and more welcoming connections between stations and surrounding communities.
The MetroWay shared path, that will run the length of the corridor, is currently in procurement and will revolutionise active transport for local communities.
From tomorrow, Southwest communities will be directly connected into the existing M1 North West and Bankstown Line with faster, more reliable and more frequent services, including:
- Marrickville to Gadigal: 12 minutes – saving 12 minutes
- Bankstown to Central: 28 minutes – saving 6 minutes
- Campsie to Macquarie University: 44 minutes – saving 17 minutes
- Lakemba to Victoria Cross: 37 minutes – saving 24 minutes
Transport Minister John Graham said:
“The people of southwest Sydney have been incredibly patient throughout this process, and that patience is about to be rewarded. Tomorrow morning, your new Metro hits the track.
“There is an enormous amount of work that goes into preparing a new Metro line for passengers, right down to the smallest details, and today this train is getting the royal treatment before its historic journey.
“It is very fitting that Train Set 29, which carried the first passengers on the opening day service from Sydenham in 2024, will once again carry the first passengers through southwest Sydney.”
Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen said:
“Inner westies are so excited to say goodbye to the pink buses and say hello to the new Metro as we count down the final hours until opening.
“Our stations have had the ultimate makeover, and they’ve never looked better. They have new lifts, new signs and freshly cleaned platforms, with the heritage charm still front and centre.
“A huge thank you to the thousands of workers who brought this 130-year-old line into the 21st century, and to locals for their understanding along the way.
“Southwest Metro will transform how we get around our city and we can’t wait to get on board tomorrow.”
Member for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson MP said:
“I want to thank Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Transport John Graham and the thousands of workers who have worked tirelessly to get the Southwest Metro ready for passengers. I also want to thank my community for their patience throughout the work to deliver this new service. It’s almost time to get on board, enjoy the journey, and celebrate a new chapter for public transport in southwest Sydney.”
Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said:
“In less than 24 hours, the lives of people in the inner south-west are going to change – for the first time ever, they’ll be able to travel directly to northern Sydney.
“This new line opens up so many opportunities for people across the inner south-west providing direct access to places of work and education, and it means that people from Northern Sydney can now come straight down to the inner-west and experience the diverse range of food and experiences on offer.
“It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point, and I want to thank everyone for their patience – from the commuters who have endured the pink buses for the past two years to the business owners and staff who are about to have people from right across Sydney on their doorstep.”
Member for Strathfield, Jason Yat-sen Li said:
“This is a huge win for our local communities. The Southwest Metro will make it easier for people to get to work, study and visit family, and it will unlock better connections across the Inner West.
“More frequent trains, simpler transfers at Campsie and Sydenham, and upgraded station precincts mean safer, more convenient journeys for commuters and other users. I’m proud this project delivers real, everyday improvements for local residents.”
Member for Bankstown Jihad Dib said:
“Members of my community are telling me what a massive difference the Metro will make to small businesses in the area and they’re getting ready for the benefits that it will bring. I’d urge people across Sydney to come and enjoy all that the Bankstown community has to offer.”
Sydney Metro Chief Executive Camilla Drover said:
“It’s Metro eve, and there’s a real sense of pride across the project. After years of planning, construction and testing, we’re just one sleep away from opening this transformational railway for Sydney.
“We can’t wait to welcome our inner and southwest community members on board and thank them for the patience and support they’ve shown as we delivered this city-shaping project.
“We’re expecting thousands of journeys on day one and will be closely monitoring the network as customers experience their new metro services. Our staff will be on hand across stations and trains to help passengers and answer any questions along the way.”
