Developers Celebrate as Southwest Metro Line Slashes Commutes

Sydney’s Southwest Metro extension line has opened, adding 10 stations from Bankstown to Marrickville to the driverless rail network. Commuters and developers welcomed the first services on Friday, October 30, which are already opening up the region to better connectivity and densification. Davron, who travels from Campsie to Martin Place for work, told The Urban Developer that the Metro would cut his 60-70 minute commute in half. “The Metros are very fast and pretty convenient, more than buses,” Davron said. Arada is developing three projects in the vicinity of Campsie station, including a $302-million, 39-storey tower at 124-142 Beamish Street and 16-18 Ninth Avenue . Chief executive Ahmed Alkhoshaibi told The Urban Developer that “significant public investment has gone into this [Metro] infrastructure”. “What gave us the confidence to invest at scale was the Metro, together with the council’s vision for the town centre,” Alkhoshaibi said. “Transit-oriented development means more people using the Metro, more customers for local businesses, and residents with easy access to jobs, education and services across Sydney.” ▲ Arada’s London Place project at 10 London Street and 43 North Parade was approved in September. At Bankstown, Sydney Anglican Property is progressing a $97-million TOD tower with an all-affordable housing yield of 186 apartments . SAP chief executive Ross Jones told The Urban Developer that “healthy communities are built on good connections”. “The provision of high quality transport infrastructure enables much-needed additional housing development in surrounding areas, including the kind of social and affordable housing being delivered on the St Paul’s site,” Jones said. And at Marrickville, Third.i’s 300-home precinct would be less than 100m from the new Metro station . Third.i partner Florian Caillon told The Urban Developer that the Metro was a factor in site selection. “I think the underlying opportunity these days needs to be more than just housing, and that’s delivered either by amenity, convenience or transport,” Caillon said. According to Caillon, the Metro has the potential to improve office and retail uses along the line, as well as commuter connectivity. ▲ According to Sydney Metro, up to 25 minutes has been cut off the commute from Bankstown to Barangaroo. “My favorite sushi place is in Martin Place. And every now and then, if I’m craving sushi, I’ll jump on at Crow’s Nest to Martin Place and grab a sushi roll. “It takes me seven minutes to get there. “You could keep going down the line all the way to Bankstown and indulge in food over there. So I think that’s something that’s pretty special. “It genuinely breaks down those barriers and allows you to get there. In some instances, it’s a third of the time.” ‘Cool’ new stations worth the wait The Metro network now has 46 stations, and 15 more are under construction. The Southwest extension line includes stops at Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill, and Marrickville. The new line connects with heavy rail passenger services at Bankstown and Sydenham, and light rail at Dulwich Hill. Liam, a passenger who was travelling to Lakemba, said that he had bicycled through the Greenway alongside the light rail line before boarding at Dulwich Hill. “Usually I’d ride to the bus stop, and then get the pink [rail replacement] bus,” Liam said. “Often I would actually end up riding all the way because they wouldn’t turn up, or they’d turn up too late. “I think [the Metro is] awesome. I like the new stations as well, they’re so cool.” ▲ New plazas and pedestrian infrastructure, and upgraded facilities have accompanied station upgrades along the line. However, passenger James was more hesitant. A typical commute by car from Leumeah to Bankstown can take between one and two hours for James, depending on traffic conditions. An alternative using heavy rail to Sydenham, and then switching to a Metro line to Bankstown, “is probably about the same [journey time], to be honest,” James said. “It’s great coming from Bankstown to the city, but I still find from Leumeah or Campbelltown ... it’s still difficult. “I’m pleased it’s not crowded today. I’m probably impressed with how many services there are.” The full 66km journey from Bankstown to Tallawong via the CBD now takes 80 minutes, with services running every four minutes during peak periods. ▲ A non-functioning platform door was the solitary sign of teething problems along the line on the first day. The 130-year old T3 Bankstown line and the heritage stations on it were converted to Metro infrastructure during the past two years. The conversion had originally been planned for to be completed in a year. Transport minister John Graham said that the project had been funded without asset recycling or privatisation. “This was the moment patience turned to jubilation,” Graham said. “These communities will now be better connected to jobs, education, health and entertainment across Sydney.” After taking office in 2023, the Minns government commissioned a review into the cost of the Metro network. The program’s budget for the City and Southwest components had more than doubled from initial estimates, to at least $20.5 billion. The final cost to date of those components is reportedly around $23 billion.

Infrastructure
Patrick Lau
Fri 30 Oct 26

Developers Celebrate as Southwest Metro Line Slashes Commutes

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