A metro-style railway to Western Sydney will extend as far as Westmead and will include a connection to the existing T1 Northern Line, the NSW Government has said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and transport and infrastructure minister Andrew Constance on March 23 outlined further details for the Sydney Metro West project, which has undergone public and industry consultation in recent months.
Along with previously announced stations at Sydney’s CBD, The Bays Precinct, Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta, the Government announced the addition of a station at Westmead, and a station connecting the line to the T1 Northern Line at either Concord West or North Strathfield.
Intermediate station options are also being considered for Camellia/Rydalmere, North Burwood/Five Dock, Kings Bay and Pyrmont, with further consultation to take place.
Westmead, around one kilometre west of Parramatta, would be the western-end terminus of the railway under current plans, but Constance said the Government would ensure the network could be extended in the future.
“The NSW Government will safeguard the ability to extend Sydney Metro to the west beyond Westmead, for example as part of a future East-West connection to Western Sydney Aerotropolis, and the south east of the Sydney CBD via Zetland,” he said.
The remaining station decisions for the planned Sydney Metro West line would be carefully considered, he added.
“There is a balance between the number of stops and the travel time from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD,” he said. “That’s why we will work through the intermediate stop options with the community and industry before coming to a final decision.”
Sydney Metro West is the third major metro railway project for Sydney.
Sydney Metro Northwest, which should see first trains next year, runs from Rouse Hill to Chatswood via Castle Hill and Epping. Sydney Metro City & Southwest, currently under construction, will extend that line from Chatswood to the Sydney CBD, and on to Bankstown via Sydenham.
Berejiklian said the third metro project would deliver greater travel benefits to Western Sydney.
“Sydney Metro West will become the fastest, easiest and most reliable journey between the Sydney and Parramatta CBDs, which could be as little as 20 minutes,” the premier said.
“We have been working hand-in-hand with the community on Sydney Metro West and we have taken on board feedback to make it an even greater infrastructure project for greater Western Sydney.”