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The first track has been laid on the new Western Sydney Airport metro line near Luddenham.
Tracklaying on the transport link, which will incorporate 106.8 kilometres of rail line and 76,285 sleepers, began north of a new metro bridge over what will be the M12 motorway and is proceeding towards the line’s terminus at St Marys.
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“The start of track laying is an exciting milestone for Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport. Each new metre of track is a step towards economic opportunity for Western Sydney and the economy of NSW,” John Graham, NSW Minister for Transport, said.
“Sydney loves Metro and this line will deliver passengers between the wider train network and the new airport, but also take workers to the new jobs created at the airport and the many businesses that will grow around it.
“Labor believes Western Sydney deserves the same standard of infrastructure and connectivity that areas closer to the CBD already enjoy – and we are getting on with the job of building it. This project is providing 14,000 jobs right here in Western Sydney, which is another great dividend.”
The metro line, a joint project between the NSW and Commonwealth government, will have six stops, with station design finalised and construction now “in full swing”.
Catherine King, Federal Minister for Transport, said the track laying is the first step to a “frequent and efficient rail link” for the new airport.
“Once this track is laid and trains are running, this rail link will connect passengers from the new airport to St Marys in just 15 minutes,” Minister King said.
“The Albanese Government has also invested $1 billion to start securing rail corridors in south west Sydney. These corridors will mean this Metro or the Sydney Trains network can be extended, connecting the airport and these growing parts of Sydney to the rest of the city.”
Minister Graham, who took over the NSW Transport portfolio following the resignation of Jo Haylen in February, has come under pressure amid speculation the airport metro line – slated to be up and running alongside the airport itself in late 2026 – may not open on time.
Facing questions at NSW budget estimates last month, Minister Graham admitted that the line could be delayed, but was unable to specify how long it would take.
“Public speculation and media [are] reporting about a potential six-month delay,” he said.
“I can confirm that this is a project under time pressure and there may well be a delay.”
The NSW government in January showcased a mock-up of one of the cars on the airport metro. Its 12 trains will feature wider aisles for luggage, as well as other features like digital displays of flight information, and will be capable of moving 7,740 passengers in each direction per hour.
The state and federal governments have also committed $195 million to a joint business case for future rail extensions in Sydney’s west.
