Southwest Sydney Enters the Metro Age

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 30, 2026

Sydney’s $23 billion Southwest Metro officially began passenger service Friday, ending over two years of disruptions and introducing a driverless train line with upgraded stations along a 66-kilometre route. The new Metro significantly cuts travel times to the CBD and is expected to serve up to 20,000 commuters during peak hours, providing faster, more reliable transit for southwest Sydney residents.

Sydney’s $23 billion Southwest Metro officially opened to passengers on Friday morning, ending over two years of travel disruptions for tens of thousands of commuters in the city’s southwest region. The inaugural service departed Bankstown Station at 4:31 a.m. bound for Sydenham, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of Sydney’s driverless train network.

The new Metro line runs along the 66-kilometre M1 North West and Bankstown corridor, incorporating refurbished stations at Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill, and Marrickville. These upgrades provide residents with faster and more direct access to the central business district (CBD) and Sydney’s northwest.

Travel times are substantially reduced on the new service. The trip from Marrickville to Gadigal, a station in the CBD, now takes 12 minutes, compared to 24 minutes on the previous heavy rail line to Town Hall. The journey from Bankstown to Central has been cut to 28 minutes, saving six minutes, while the Lakemba to Victoria Cross at North Sydney trip is now 37 minutes, a reduction of 24 minutes.

Sydney Metro anticipates that up to 20,000 passengers will travel on the southwest section between Bankstown and Sydenham during Friday’s morning peak. Replacement bus services that operated during the heavy rail conversion over the past two years will continue to run through the weekend as a backup.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the opening as a “huge moment for southwest Sydney,” expressing gratitude to commuters, families, and local businesses for their patience during the transition. He emphasized that the investment would provide southwest residents with fast and reliable public transport comparable to other parts of the city, delivering benefits for generations to come.

The first train to run on the new southwest line was the same driverless train set that inaugurated the Metro’s August 2024 opening service from Sydenham. The project involved more than 6,300 workers who transformed the century-old heavy rail line, modernizing station facilities while preserving key heritage elements.

Upgrades across the stations include refurbished buildings and restrooms, resurfaced platforms, new signage, CCTV, digital information displays, and platform screen doors. Accessibility has been enhanced with the installation of lifts at all stations. Public spaces have also seen improvements, with new shared paths, landscaping, seating, and plazas added.

Transport Minister John Graham acknowledged the community’s patience during the extensive construction phase, noting the detailed work required to prepare the new Metro line for operational safety and efficiency. State Labor MP Sophie Cotsis, representing Canterbury, highlighted the benefits of the upgraded network for local communities, particularly school students who will experience shorter commute times.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.