The Southwest Metro, the rail link which will revolutionise the southwest region, is speeding closer to opening with more than half of the required the 30,000 testing kilometres successfully completed.
Testing is ongoing for about 16 to 22 hours a day, five to seven days a week. Fifty-five per cent of the 700 testing checks have been successfully completed, and a further 216 system integration and acceptance tests will be carried out over the coming months.
This new testing phase involves ensuring trains, signalling, platform screen doors, mechanical gap fillers and station systems integrate seamlessly to deliver safe, turn-up-and-go services from day one.
Testing will focus on validating complex operations including the precise and simultaneous opening of train doors, platform screen doors and gap filler technology at every station, as the railway prepares for passenger services.
When services begin between Bankstown and Sydenham in the second half of the year, trains will run every four minutes in the peak with metro services expected to move around 18,000 passengers an hour in the morning peak between Bankstown and Central.
Integrating the Bankstown extension with the existing M1 line requires a series of closures and this includes a full line closure over the upcoming Easter long weekend. While highly disruptive, the work completed during closure periods is essential to opening the final section of the M1 line.
When fast, frequent and reliable metro services between Sydenham and Bankstown start later this year, commuters travel times will be transformed:
- Marrickville to Gadigal: 12 minutes - saving 12 minutes
- Bankstown to Central: 28 minutes - saving six minutes
- Campsie to Macquarie University: 44 minutes - saving 17 minutes
- Lakemba to Victoria Cross: 37 minutes - saving 24 minutes
Necessary conversion works including station upgrades is almost 85% complete, with Bankstown Plaza and Dulwich Hill Plaza recently completed and opened.
Minister for Transport, John Graham said:
"This is an exciting milestone for southwest Sydney, with the next phase of testing now bringing all elements of the new railway together as one fully integrated system.
"Separating the old T3 line to a new metro line is complex but it frees up capacity elsewhere on the heavy rail network. We've already seen more services enabled by the T3 closure in 2024, and there's more capacity still available around the City Circle for Sydney to grow into.
"Over time Sydney Metro, together with signalling and infrastructure upgrades across the existing network, will increase the capacity of train services to Sydney CBD from about 120 an hour previously, to up to 200 services an hour in future."
"We thank passengers and locals for their patience while this important testing is carried out and a vital piece of new infrastructure that will serve Sydney for decades to come is delivered."
Member for Bankstown, Jihad Dib said:
"Bankstown is a hidden gem for dining, shopping and cultural experiences and I'm excited that people will soon be able to easily visit by hopping on the new Metro!
"It will be worth the wait to have services running every four minutes in the peak, getting people from Bankstown to Central in just 28 minutes - and with only a third of the testing checks to go, we're so much closer to completion."
Member for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis said:
"The Southwest Metro is a transformational project that will better cater for the transportation needs of southwest Sydney and deliver more job opportunities for the people of Canterbury.
With the travel time from Lakemba to Victoria Cross reduced by 24 minutes, this is not only a win for people commuting from Southwest Sydney for work, it's great for suburban tourism in connecting local communities.
"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the community for their patience and understanding during this work."
Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen said:
"When the Southwest Metro opens, travel will be transformed, with a 12‑minute trip from Marrickville to Gadigal and a train every four minutes in the peak. It will give people in the southwest fast, easy access to the rest of the city, including places like Macquarie University, creating new opportunities for students, workers and families."
"Testing is well advanced, with the system now being put through its paces as we move closer to opening day. Thank you to the community for their patience during the disruption of construction and closures - that patience is now paying off with real progress being made."
Member for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson said:
"The Metro is truly going to revolutionise the whole of South Western Sydney. It is going to mean people spend less time commuting and more time in their community, with their families and friends. We can't wait!"
Background
- A minimum of 9,000 hours and 30,000kms of testing and validation of 70 key integration tests, involving hundreds of checks, during high speed.
- More than 700 hours and 3,000 kilometres of testing has taken place at lower speeds since testing began.
- More than 2500 of the required 9000 hours have been completed since testing at higher speeds began on 10 November 2025 with the train travelling up to the maximum line speed of 100km/h, along with around 17,000 of the required 30,000 kilometres of testing.
- The project has reached key milestones, including 3675 kilometres of loaded train testing, using 115,500 litres of water to simulate a full passenger load of 1540 customers.
- High speed testing is just one of the steps towards opening this railway. Once complete, it will be followed by a series of safety and performance scenarios.
