Project Profile: Sydney’s Bankstown Line Metro Upgrade

The Bankstown Line Upgrade is a transformative infrastructure project converting 13 kilometres of century-old heavy rail into a high-frequency, fully automated metro system. As a critical component of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, it enhances network capacity, reliability, and accessibility for Southwest Sydney. This profile details the technical specifications and strategic outcomes of this significant urban rail modernisation.

Technical Specifications

The core of the project involved the conversion of the existing T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown. This required extensive civil and systems engineering, including the complete modernisation of eleven stations to meet metro standards. Key infrastructure upgrades include the installation of platform screen doors (PSDs) at all stations, the segregation of the existing freight line from the new driverless metro tracks, and the refurbishment of 15 rail bridges. Track infrastructure was overhauled with new crossovers for efficient train management, along with significant upgrades to drainage, retaining walls, and culverts.

All eleven stations were retrofitted for full accessibility, featuring new lifts and ensuring level access between the platforms and the fleet of Alstom Metropolis rolling stock. Systems integration was a major component, encompassing the deployment of modern communication and digital signalling systems to support automated train operations. This enables a peak hour frequency of a train every four minutes, dramatically increasing passenger capacity and service reliability compared to the legacy heavy rail system.

Key Takeaways

• Massive Capacity Uplift: The upgrade increases train frequency to 15 trains per hour during peak periods, providing capacity for an additional 100,000 passengers per hour across the broader metro network.
• Enhanced Network Connectivity: The project delivers new, direct, and faster services to key economic hubs such as Barangaroo, North Sydney, Chatswood, and Macquarie Park, seamlessly integrating Southwest Sydney into the city’s expanding metro network.
• Modernisation and Accessibility Benchmark: By retrofitting all stations with lifts, level access, and modern safety systems like platform screen doors, the project sets a new standard for accessibility and passenger experience on a legacy rail corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When did the Bankstown Metro line open?
The upgraded Bankstown Metro line opened to passengers in 2025, following the completion of major construction, systems integration, and extensive testing to ensure operational readiness and safety.

Who built the Bankstown Line Upgrade?
The upgrade was delivered by several key contractors. The main infrastructure work was handled by a joint venture between John Holland and Laing O’Rourke, with station upgrades managed by Downer EDI Works and a joint venture of Haslin and Stephen Edwards Constructions. Design work was led by the Metron T2M joint venture, comprising Mott MacDonald and Arcadis.