The Southwest Metro line has taken a key step towards opening later this year, with a second test train joining the fleet as commissioning ramps up.
The additional train is operating alongside the original test train, which has been running under “loaded” conditions to assess performance at full passenger capacity. Each test train carries 106 containers filled with 115,500 litres of water, equivalent to the weight of 1,540 passengers, and has already completed more than 500 kilometres of critical performance and safety testing between Sydenham and Bankstown.
Since higher-speed testing began on 10 November 2025, more than 1,200 of the required 9,000 testing hours have been completed at speeds of up to 100 km/h, covering around 13,000 of the 30,000 kilometres needed for the program.
Station upgrade works across southwest Sydney are also progressing, with 80 per cent of the overall Southwest Metro Conversion and Station Works now complete. Key activities include installation of signage, tiling of platforms, commissioning of platform screen doors and mechanical gap fillers, as well as landscaping and streetscape improvements.
Integration of the operational M1 Line with the new Southwest Metro line remains underway. To complete this work, a series of full and partial M1 Line closures will be required prior to opening. While these closures may cause temporary disruption, they are essential to ensure the work is carried out safely.
The Southwest Metro project is a significant milestone for Sydney’s southwest, bringing modern metro services closer to communities in the region and improving connectivity across the city.
