Commuters in Bankstown, Lakemba, Canterbury, Marrickville and surrounding suburbs are closer to enjoying the world class Southwest metro service with testing successfully simulating a fully loaded train.
To replicate the weight of 1,540 passengers, Sydney Metro has been testing a train loaded with 106 containers filled with 115,500 litres of water. Since the simulation commenced the train has successfully completed more than 500 kilometres of critical performance and safety testing on the new Southwest Metro line.
This trial tests the safe and reliable performance of the train under real-world operating conditions. The test train simulates the approximate 115,500-kilogram weight of a fully loaded passenger service to validate braking, acceleration and stopping distances, check interfaces between the train, track and platforms functions safely and ensure the power and signalling systems operate correctly under peak demand.
Since higher-speed testing began on 10 November 2025, more than 1,200 of the required 9,000 hours have been completed at speeds of up to 100 km/h, along with around 13,000 kilometres of the required 30,000 kilometres of testing.
A second train has also joined the testing on the Southwest Metro line. From March onwards up to six trains will be part of the testing fleet which will conduct multi train testing and system integration acceptance tests. Testing will be completed later this year before the trial running phase commences.
Once complete, passengers will benefit from faster, more reliable and more frequent services, including:
- Marrickville to Gadigal: 12 minutes – saving 12 minutes
- Bankstown to Central: 28 minutes – saving six minutes
- Campsie to Macquarie University: 44 minutes – saving 17 minutes
- Lakemba to Victoria Cross: 37 minutes – saving 24 minutes
Work to upgrade 10 stations across Sydney’s southwest is also reaching its final stage, with 80% of overall construction of the Southwest Metro Conversion and Station Works now finished.
At stations, teams are focused on the installation of signage and the tiling of platforms. Testing and commissioning of the platform screen doors and mechanical gap fillers is ongoing and landscaping and streetscape work has commenced.
Customers planning metro travel, particularly on weekends, are encouraged to plan ahead by visiting transportnsw.info.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
“This is an important milestone for the completion of this project.
“When complete this connection between Southwest and Northwest Sydney will truly transform the city, connecting different suburbs in a way they’ve never been linked before.
“This is a complicated project and I want to thank the residents along the old T3 rail line for their patience while we carry out this conversion.”
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“This vital part of the comprehensive testing program is ensuring the Southwest Metro line meets the highest standards of safety, reliability and performance.”
“The successful completion of over 500kms of water loaded testing shows the delivery of this city shaping transport infrastructure is tracking extremely well.
“We appreciate that the closure of the line has been a massive inconvenience for people living along the former T3 rail line, but the immense benefits will last for generations when the Southwest Metro opens later this year.
“In the coming months, there will be significant weekend disruption to services on the M1 Line as critical work is completed to integrate the Southwest Metro line. This is vital work, but we acknowledge the inconvenience for metro passengers during this time.”
Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said:
“The Southwest Metro is a transformational project that when complete will better cater for the transportation needs of inner southwest Sydney and deliver more job opportunities for the people of Canterbury.
“I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the local community for their flexibility in arranging alternative transport as this important project reaches another major milestone.
“I would also like to extend to the community my sincere thanks for their patience and understanding during this work.”
Member for Bankstown Jihad Dib said:
“Testing is one of the last phases of the Metro construction and I’m very excited for our community as we near the finish line of this incredible piece of transport infrastructure.
“Again, I thank our community for their patience and I reaffirm, it will be worth the wait.”
Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:
“This testing is a major milestone for Southwest Metro and shows that we are getting closer to getting passengers on board what will be a totally transformational public transport service for our community.
“It will mean better, more frequent, and faster journeys for everyone. Thank you to everyone for their patience during the disruptive construction. The wait will be worth it because everyone wins when more people can choose public transport more often.”