Testing begins on Sydney’s Southwest Metro

Testing of Sydney’s Southwest Metro line began last Thursday, marking the first time a metro train has operated on this track that will transforms a 130-year-old former T3 Bankstown line into a modern, automated metro. The testing and commissioning program that will include more than 6500 hours of train testing between Sydenham and Bankstown.

Train set TS 28 completed the inaugural 6.5 km journey to Campsie Station in five hours. When the extended metro line opens next year, the same journey will take 11 minutes.

Making stops at each station, the train made its way towards Campsie, before later travelling the full length of the new line to Bankstown. The initial testing phase will see the train travel at speeds under 25 km/h under manual control.

The next phase will involve testing at higher speeds and a transition from manual to automated train operations.

The state government says that when the final section of the M1 Metro North West & Bankstown Line opens next year, Sydney will have a 66-kilometre fast and reliable metro network connecting Sydney’s north-west with the south-west, passing under the harbour and through the Sydney CBD.

“This is an exciting day for south west Sydney who have put up with major disruption to their train services and waited patiently for what will be a transformative new metro service,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns. “Seeing a metro train in testing on these tracks is a glimpse into the future where people from Bankstown and Belmore, Campsie and Canterbury, will have access to the most modern, turn-up-and-go metro services leaving these stations every four minutes.

“I want to thank the hardworking Southwest Metro conversion team who have worked around the clock to get these trains on the tracks as we work towards opening this brand new metro line.”

“Train testing is another reminder to the southwest that this most modern is on its way to service the community,” said Minister for Transport John Graham. “The southwest section of the M1 Metro Line is expected to add an additional 17,000 people to the rail network every hour during peak periods.”

Image: Testing begins on the SouthWest Metro. Credit: Sydney Metro