The Hunter Street metro station cavern on Sydney Metro West is approaching completion, with the underground platform shell finished and construction cranes now rising above Hunter Street.
The City Desk is a contributing writer covering city and public affairs for The Sydney Times.
The Hunter Street metro station cavern on Sydney Metro West is approaching completion, with the underground platform shell finished and construction cranes now rising above Hunter Street as the project enters its final stages of excavation and structural fit-out.
The Hunter Street station cavern is one of the deepest excavation works on the Sydney Metro West project, extending more than 40 metres below ground level in the heart of the Sydney CBD. The cavern was excavated using conventional drill-and-blast methods combined with ground freezing technology to stabilise the sandy soils beneath the city. The station box was completed in early 2025, with the platform shell and cross passages now structurally complete.
Site establishment works commenced from April 2026 at the Hunter Street station site, with excavation and structural works progressing in parallel with tunnelling activities. The Lendlease, Mirvac and Coombes Property Group precinct development partnership is overseeing the station main works, with Lendlease expected to commence construction of the station main works in early 2027. The precinct development will include two commercial over-station developments above the metro station, creating new office and retail space in the northern CBD.
Hunter Street station is scheduled to open with the rest of Sydney Metro West in 2032. The opening will extend the M1 line from its current terminus at Chatswood through to the Hunter Street station in the CBD, providing direct metro access to North Sydney, Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney. The station will be served by the Metro Trains West Consortium, which was awarded the TSMO contract for supplying and commissioning 16 new-generation metro trains and operating and maintaining the Sydney Metro West network for 15 years.
The Hunter Street station is the first new underground station in the Sydney CBD since the opening of the Metro City & Southwest project. It will provide direct metro access to the northern CBD, relieving pressure on Wynyard and Town Hall stations and opening up new development opportunities in the Hunter Street and Clarence Street corridors.
The station sits within walking distance of Wynyard, Martin Place and Circular Quay, but will provide a more convenient connection for commuters working in the northern CBD and for residents in the northern suburbs who currently rely on buses or the rail network to reach the CBD. The precinct development above the station is expected to include office space, retail and community facilities, with Lendlease bringing its expertise in mixed-use development to the project.
The opening of Hunter Street station in 2032 will coincide with the opening of the rest of the Sydney Metro West project, creating a continuous metro line from Westmead to the Hunter Street station in the CBD. The project will reduce travel times by up to 22 minutes between Westmead and Hunter Street, providing a fast and reliable alternative to driving and bus services. According to the Sydney Metro West project update April 2026, the project remains on track for its 2032 opening.
For more context on Sydney transit infrastructure, see The City.
Direct inquiries, corrections, or documentation concerning this dispatch to our editorial newsroom desk.
Procurement has started for the Stage 2a main works contract on Parramatta Light Rail, clearing the way for construction to begin in early 2027 on the 10-kilometre extension to Olympic Park.
Satellite data shows Sydney's sandy beaches have eroded by almost 7 metres since 2000, with the rate accelerating dramatically since 2019 as sea levels rise and storm intensity increases.
Sydney CBD office vacancy fell to 13.9 percent in Q2 2026, but the recovery is concentrated in premium buildings, leaving secondary stock and non-CBD markets behind.
After years of neglect, Sydney is building separated cycleways and active transport links at pace, but the network remains fragmented and dangerous for all but the most confident riders.