Sydney’s Southwest Metro Opens This Friday
Something big is happening in Sydney this Friday and if you commute through the southwest, this is the news you have been waiting for.
The Southwest Metro Opens Friday 30 October
Sydney’s long-awaited Southwest Metro will officially open with the first service departing at 4:31am on Friday 30 October — and it marks the end of a two-year construction period that saw the 130-year-old T3 Bankstown Line replaced entirely.
What Does It Connect?
The new metro will connect south-western suburbs to the Sydney CBD, North Sydney and north-western suburbs. For Western Sydney locals, this means faster, more direct journeys across the city without the hassle of changing trains.
How Frequent Are the Services?
Passengers will have access to trains every four minutes during weekday peak hours at stations including Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville. Services will run every five minutes during the day and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on weekends.
Transport Minister John Graham said commuters would no longer need to check a timetable — simply turn up at the station and board within minutes.
Goodbye Pink Buses
Pink buses replaced trains on the south-west line for more than two years and became a regular sight on major roads between Sydenham and Bankstown, leaving some commuters facing lengthier travel times. That era is now over.
What Has Been Upgraded?
Upgrades include platform screen doors, new lifts, station improvements, updated customer information systems and enhanced security technology. Accessibility improvements have also been made at stations including Wiley Park, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Punchbowl and Canterbury — with accessible lifts installed at these stations for the first time.
The Bigger Picture
The new metro offers 50 per cent more passenger capacity than the old T3 Bankstown Line it replaces, along with faster journeys and direct connections to more jobs, education and opportunities across Sydney.
It is the final stage of Sydney’s M1 Metro North West and Bankstown Line, which will connect Bankstown to Tallawong along a 66-kilometre stretch.
Worth Knowing
The NSW government has warned there may be minor teething issues as services get underway. The pink Southwest Link buses will continue to operate on the opening day and weekend as backup.
Opens: Friday 30 October 2026
First service: 4:31am
Stations: Sydenham to Bankstown
