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Sydney Southwest Metro Extension Weeks Away From Opening, Awaiting Final Safety Approval
NSW Transport Minister John Graham says Sydney's southwest metro extension is weeks from opening, awaiting final approval from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator. Once open, Bankstown to Sydenham will take 21 minutes.
Why it matters
The 13-kilometre Sydenham-to-Bankstown corridor converts the old T3 heavy rail line into a fully automated driverless metro, linking southwest Sydney directly to the city centre. Once open, Bankstown to Sydenham will take 21 minutes, with trains every four minutes at peak — a long-awaited relief for commuters who have relied on free replacement buses for over two years.
Latest development
Project director Alia Karaman submitted the last batch of safety data to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) this week, but told a press briefing the opening date is not set and ruled out this weekend. The Minns government has avoided committing to a specific date.
Background
The old T3 line closed in September 2024 with a 12-month shutdown originally planned, but converting century-old stations to driverless standards proved harder than expected. All 10 stations were upgraded with full-height platform screen doors and level boarding. Together with the city section, the project costs over AUD $20 billion — Australia's biggest public transport project.
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