Sydney’s Sydenham to Bankstown metro extension moved a step closer to opening this week, with through-running tests beginning on Tuesday and an end to nearly two years of replacement buses now in sight.

The Guardian Australia reported that Premier Chris Minns and Acting Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison rode the line from Sydenham to Bankstown during the media event, with the trip taking just over 26 minutes despite an unplanned stop along the way. The extension is capable of speeds up to 110km/h, and a full Bankstown to Central run is expected to clock in at 28 minutes once passenger services begin, six minutes faster than the old T3 Bankstown line managed.

The Bankstown line stations closed in September 2024 to allow conversion to metro standards. The former Coalition government predicted the work would take three to six months when it announced the project in 2018. The Minns government later revised that to at least a year. The line is still not open. Aitchison attributed the delays to heritage issues on the network. Sydney Metro project director Alia Karaman told reporters: “We’re a brownfield railway, there are unexpected hiccups every day.”

No firm opening date has been given. The Sydney Morning Herald reported last month that Sydney Metro was targeting mid-October. Minns declined to confirm that, saying the project was “still in the hands of the national safety regulator” and that the government did not want to commit to a date it could not meet. Further planned closures across the whole metro line are scheduled for weekends in July while testing continues.

Once the extension opens, Transport for NSW estimates it will add capacity for an extra 17,000 passengers during peak hours. Lakemba to Victoria Cross will come in at around 37 minutes, a saving of 24 minutes on the old service.

For tradies working in or around the inner west and south-west, the end of replacement buses and faster cross-city times will ease daily logistics. The opening will also clear the site of construction crews still finishing off station fitouts at stops including Campsie, Canterbury, and Belmore.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Sydney Metro Bankstown extension open to passengers?

No firm date has been confirmed. The Sydney Morning Herald reported last month that Sydney Metro was targeting mid-October 2026, but Premier Chris Minns said the project was still subject to national safety regulator approval.

Why has the Bankstown metro conversion taken so long?

The former Coalition government predicted the conversion would take three to six months when announced in 2018. Acting Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison attributed the delays to heritage issues on the network, while Sydney Metro project director Alia Karaman noted unexpected complications on the brownfield railway.

How much faster will the metro be compared with the old T3 Bankstown line?

A full Bankstown to Central run is expected to take around 28 minutes once services begin, six minutes faster than the old T3 line. The Lakemba to Victoria Cross trip will be about 37 minutes, a saving of 24 minutes.

Will there be any service disruptions while testing continues?

Yes. Further planned closures across the whole metro line are scheduled for weekends in July while testing and commissioning work continues.

Sourced from Guardian Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, Transport for NSW. Original article.