Australia’s first metro line is fully automated
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Trainsandtech
On 26 May the Metro North West Line opened in Syndey. This fully automated line is the first metro line in Australia.
The Metro North West Line is Stage 1 of Sydney Metro and includes 36km of track, 13 stations and a depot. It runs from Tallawong Station at Rouse Hill to Chatswood.
The line incorporated an existing 13km railway between Epping to Chatswood, which was updgraded for the metro project.
Service will include one train every four minutes in each direction at peak hours.
Alstom trains and signalling system
Under the contract awarded by Northwest Rapid Transit (NRT) in September 2014, Alstom has been responsible for the project management, design, supply, manufacturing, testing and commissioning of 22 6-car Metropolis trains and Urbalis 400 CBTC signalling systems.
Alstom has also been awarded a 15 year maintenance contract for the trains, signalling, depot operations and equipment.
Network extension
A 30km extension from the end of the Metro North West Line at Chatswood under Sydney Harbour, through new Central Business District stations and south west to Bankstown, is due to open in 2024. It will have seven new metro stations and 11 upgraded stations.
Once completed, Sydney will have a total of 31 metro stations and a 66km metro network in addition to its suburban rail network.
Bus feeders
Two new on demand bus services will start connecting travellers to metro services on the Metro North West Line. On demand buses can pick people up from an agreed point close to their home and drop them off at a nearby metro station.
To support the introduction of Sydney Metro, improvements and service adjustments have been made to the bus network in Sydney’s North West so that customers can easily access the new metro stations.
Sources: Alstom press release, Transport for New South Wales