The NSW government has signed off on a contract for $87 million worth of lifts and escalators to provide enhanced accessibility at Sydney’s Metro stations.
German-based company Thyssenkrupp will design, supply, install and maintain about 70 lifts and 130 escalators for the extension of Sydney Metro from Chatswood into the city and beyond to the south west under a framework contract.
State transport minister Andrew Constance said that, with many of the new Sydney Metro stations will be located deep underground, the investment in the accessibility infrastructure was considerable – Australia’s largest.
“This is the biggest one-off investment in improving accessibility in the history of public transport in this country – a combined 200 lifts and escalators,” Constance said.
“Sydney Metro means a fully accessible railway for people in wheelchairs, parents with prams and those who are less able. There are lifts at all stations, level access between platforms and trains and no more steps into trains.”
The six new Metro stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo will be provisioned with lifts and escalators. Further lifts and escalators will be installed to provide direct access to Central Walk from the underground Central Station Metro platforms and new escalators will be built between the new underground Central Walk concourse to platforms 12-23 at Central Station.
The Bankstown Line Metro upgrade will also mean that all 11 stations between Sydenham and Bankstown will be provided with lifts.
Sydney Metro will open in the city’s north-west in the second quarter of 2019. It will be extended from Chatswood and under Sydney Harbour into the city and beyond to Bankstown in 2024.