Sydney City: Western Sydney Airport
Western Sydney Airport is preparing for its first full year of operations.
6 min read
Australia|Sydney Digital Edition
Saturday 19 September 2026
The Metropolitan Journal
New South Wales
Sydney Metro City Southwest extension is preparing for trial runs in 2026.
The City Desk is a contributing writer covering city and public affairs for The Sydney Times.
Sydney Metro City Southwest extension is preparing for trial runs in 2026. The extension will add 12 stations and 26 kilometres of track to the Sydney Metro network, creating a continuous driverless service from Tallawong in the northwest to Bankstown in the southwest.
The trial runs will use the existing Metro North West Line rolling stock, with driverless trains tested on the new track between Sydenham and Bankstown. The test program will validate signalling, platform screen doors, and passenger information systems before passenger services commence. Transport for NSW expects the trial runs to begin in October 2026, with passenger services targeted for mid-2027.
The extension will integrate with the existing Metro North West Line, creating a continuous driverless service from Tallawong to Bankstown. The extension will connect the Inner West to the metro network, with journey times from Bankstown to Central reduced from 35 minutes to approximately 20 minutes. The metro service will operate at a peak frequency of 15 trains per hour, with the capacity to increase to 30 trains per hour as demand grows.
The Sydney Metro City Southwest extension will provide improved access to employment and education precincts, including the University of Technology Sydney, the Australian Technology Park, and the Wests Tigers training facility. The metro stations at Crows Nest and Victoria Cross will serve the North Shore commercial precinct, while the Barangaroo station will provide direct access to the Barangaroo commercial and residential precinct.
The NSW Government is delivering Sydney Metro City Southwest through Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro, with a 2027 opening target for the Chatswood to Bankstown section.
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Transport for NSW provides metro information at Transport for NSW. Sydney Metro provides project updates at Sydney Metro.
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