Sydney’s new Metro driverless train undergoing track tests

The first of Sydney’s next generation of trains, a driverless model named Metro, arrived last September. And right now, that six-car Metro is undergoing testing at the Metro HQ in Rouse Hill.

The new, fully-automated Sydney Metro trains are manufactured by French company Alstom, and are based on its Metropolis design, currently in use in 25 cities around the world. Each of the carriages will have:

• three double doors each side for quick and easy passenger access
• level access from platform to train
• 6 live electronic route maps per car
• 38 surveillance cameras per train
• 2 wheelchair spaces per car
• 2 multipurpose areas per train for prams, luggage, bicycles
• continuous mobile phone coverage throughout the metro network

Currently passenger information displays, lighting and door operation are being tested, as well as acceleration, braking, and operation at different speeds.

So far 22 of Alstom’s six-car Metropolis trains have been ordered for the new Metro lines.

New train, new lines

The Metro train will run on Sydney’s new Metro lines, which are being rolled out in three stages: Metro Northwest, then Metro City and Southwest, and finally Metro West. The Metro Northwest line is 36 kilometres long, and will open to the public in the first half of 2019.

In peak hours services are scheduled to arrive every four minutes, with an ‘ultimate capacity’ of services every two minutes. Metro City and Southwest is scheduled to begin passenger use in 2024, and Metro West in the late 2020s.

“Sydney Metro will be extended under Sydney Harbour, into the CBD and beyond to Bankstown in 2024. All up, 31 Sydney Metro stations and 66km of new metro rail,” said NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.

Find out more about the new lines, trains, and more at the Sydney Metro website.

UPDATE 14 January 2019

The Sydney Metro driverless train completed a full-length test along the Metro Northwest line, Tallawong Station to Chatswood Station’s Metro platforms, a journey of 36 kilometres.

‘This project is almost ready. We’re finishing stations, car parks and testing trains to get the Northwest rail line open as quickly as possible, on time and at least $500 million under budget,’ said Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.