Sydney Southwest Metro opens after 130‑year‑old line replaced
The new driverless metro line opens on 30 October, replacing the old T3 Bankstown line.
Key facts
- According to ABC News, the first driverless service departed at 4:31am on Friday 30 October 2026.
- ABC News reports the extension replaces the 130‑year‑old T3 Bankstown heavy rail line that closed in September 2024.
- The new line runs from Sydenham to Bankstown, covering 10 stations and offering 4‑minute headways during peak hours.
- ABC News says the opening was delayed until 2026 because of complexity and industrial action, while The Guardian says it was delayed due to challenges converting the 130‑year‑old line and historic stations.
- The Guardian reports the new metro will cut the Bankstown‑to‑Central journey to 28 minutes, saving six minutes.
According to ABC News, Premier Chris Minns announced the opening of the Sydney Southwest Metro on Friday 30 October, with the first driverless service scheduled for 4:31am.
ABC News notes that the T3 Bankstown heavy rail line, which operated for 130 years, closed in September 2024 and was replaced by pink buses for more than two years.
The Guardian reports that the new metro will run every four minutes during peak hours, and that it will provide 17,000 additional passenger capacity during those times.
ABC News says the opening was delayed until 2026 because of complexity and industrial action, while The Guardian says it was delayed due to challenges converting the 130‑year‑old line and historic stations.
The Guardian adds that the new line will reduce the Bankstown‑to‑Central journey to 28 minutes, a six‑minute saving compared with the former heavy rail service.
Context
The Sydney Southwest Metro is part of New South Wales’ effort to upgrade its public transport network. The project replaced the old T3 Bankstown line, a 130‑year‑old heavy rail corridor, with a driverless rapid transit system.
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How this was made
Compiled by our AI newsroom from 2 independent outlets, checked by a separate AI editor against the sources. Only claims found in the sources are reported. Spot an error? Every source is linked below.
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