An opening date for Sydney's long-delayed Southwest Metro rail line is expected to be announced imminently, with NSW Premier Chris Minns understood to be preparing to confirm the start of driverless train services between Sydenham and Bankstown within the coming weeks.
Preparations are reportedly underway for a press conference at which the Premier will reveal when commuters can finally board the new metro trains, ending a bus-replacement period that has stretched well beyond original expectations.
Safety Sign-Off Still Pending
One critical hurdle remains before the announcement can be made official. It is understood the rail safety regulator has not yet granted formal approval for the Southwest Metro, though that sign-off is reportedly close and could arrive within 24 hours of the expected press conference.
The regulatory approval process carries particular weight given recent history. Two years ago, the opening of Sydney's Metro City line was delayed in an embarrassing setback when approvals from the same safety regulator were held up at the last moment. Officials will be keen to avoid a repeat.
There have also been reported safety concerns specific to the Southwest Metro line. Automated gap-bridging sliders, which extend when a train arrives to close the space between the platform edge and carriage doors, have in some instances left gaps that are still considered too wide. Engineers are working to resolve the issue, and in the meantime some carriage doors may remain locked at certain stations until a fix is confirmed.
A Conversion Years in the Making
The Southwest Metro project involved converting the existing heavy rail corridor between Sydenham and Bankstown into a metro-format line capable of running fully driverless trains. The conversion was originally expected to take around 12 months. It has now taken more than two years.
During construction, commuters at 10 stations along the route have had no train services and have been relying on bus alternatives. The disruption has affected hundreds of thousands of residents living along the corridor, making the opening of the line one of the most anticipated transport milestones in recent Sydney history.
Described as Australia's biggest public transport project, the line's completion has been keenly awaited by both the state government and the communities it is designed to serve.
What Comes Next
Once the safety regulator issues its approval, the formal announcement of a start date is expected to follow quickly. Services are reported to commence within weeks rather than months, bringing to an end one of the most drawn-out infrastructure rollouts in Sydney's recent transport history.
For southwest Sydney residents who have endured years of construction disruption, the arrival of frequent, driverless metro services will represent a significant change to daily travel. The government will be hoping the remaining technical issues around platform gap sliders are resolved smoothly before the doors open to the public.
