| Work Detail |
The completion of the Sydney South West Metro extension from Sydenham to Bankstown has been pushed to 2026 due to the ongoing impacts of industrial action on the project. The conversion of the century-old railway into a modern metro system is a highly complex process, with the New South Wales (NSW) Government previously warning that the work could take more than a year to complete. The project has faced significant disruptions, with over 130 days of work affected by industrial action. These disruptions have delayed critical construction and testing activities, including overhead wiring upgrades, electrification changes, track improvements, and platform extensions at Bankstown Station. Industrial action has also restricted access to worksites and limited the provision of essential permits required for safe operations in an active electrical environment. Despite these challenges, the project team and delivery partners have continued to make progress. Dynamic testing of metro trains on the South West conversion is set to begin soon, following approval from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator. Passengers on the Metro M1 Line have experienced partial service closures to allow work to proceed, and further disruptions are expected as testing progresses. Free Southwest Link buses will remain available to passengers until metro services commence. Key infrastructure upgrades completed so far include the installation of new lifts at Wiley Park, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Punchbowl, and Canterbury stations, as well as new kiss-and-ride zones and refurbished station buildings and platforms. Additionally, 28.3 kilometres of high-tech railway fencing has been installed, including a first-of-its-kind intrusion and object detection system using fibre optic cables. Minister for Transport John Graham acknowledged the delays, stating that “the Government has always said that this complex and difficult project may take longer than 1 year. We need to let people know that over 130 days of work have been impacted by industrial action. That means we’ll complete this project in 2026.” |
