In case you missed it, Sydney’s transport system has scored a major upgrade, with the extension of Sydney Metro now zipping through the CBD – stretching for 51.5 kilometres from Chatswood in the north all the way to Sydenham in the city’s Inner West. With six futuristic new stations (including one that’s home to a major new dining precinct) and a fleet of 45 driverless trains, the new transport system is the largest public transport project in Australia. Here’s everything you need to know about the super speedy Sydney Metro.
What is the Sydney Metro?
The Sydney Metro is a new transport system currently being built beneath the city. Featuring high-speed driverless trains, the system is set to dramatically improve the ease and speed with which Sydneysiders move around the city – running beneath the harbour and whizzing commuters from North Sydney’s new Victoria Cross Stationunder the harbour to Barangaroo in three minutes. Other stops on the metro line include Castle Hill, Macquarie University and a major superhub in the CBD at Martin Place.
With frequent, super-fast services, the metro is set to make commuting throughout Sydney a more simple (and speedy) experience. Construction has and will continue to cause some not insignificant disruption to our transport system (especially for people on the Bankstown to Sydenham line), but from what we know so far – it sounds like it’s going to be worth it.
When did Sydney Metro open?
The first stage of Sydney Metro (Sydney Metro Northwest) opened back in May 2019 – a high speed stretch of train line running from Chatswood to Rouse Hill’s Tallawong Station.
The most recent stretch to open was the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line between Chatswood and Sydenham, which opened on Monday, August 19.
How fast is Sydney Metro?
The metro journey times are as follows:
- Castle Hill to Martin Place in 35 minutes
- Macquarie University to Central in 26 minutes
- Chatswood to Gadigal in 13 minutes
- North Sydney’s Victoria Cross under the harbour to Barangaroo in 3 minutes
- Central to Martin Place in 4 minutes
- Central to Sydenham in 7 minutes
- Sydenham to Chatswood in 22 minutes
What stations are on the Sydney Metro line?
The Sydney Metro City and Southwest line currently runs from Chatswood to Sydenham, zipping through the city and beneath the harbour, with new stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Waterloo, and new underground platforms at Central. The completion of the Southwest line will see the Bankstown to Sydenham train line closed for 12 months – with work on the conversion of this stretch of line set to begin once Sydneysiders have settled in to the new transport system. You can learn more about what the conversion of the Sydenham to Bankstown line will mean for commuters over here.
In big news for Sydney’s western suburbs, the government has also confirmed – after years of uncertainty – that Sydney Metro West will indeed go ahead. The timeline on this one is longer, with the completion date estimated at 2032 – but it should mean big things for the city. Sydney Metro West is set to connect Sydney CBD to the sprawling new city centre next to Sydney’s new airport, and the government plans to build more additional affordable housing along the route.
You can view the full Sydney Metro map over here.
You can learn more and plan your journey here.
