Sydney Southwest Metro to open on 30 October

The Southwest Metro extension, linking Bankstown to Sydney’s CBD, is scheduled to open on 30 October following significant delays. The 66 km line will connect Tallawong to Bankstown, passing through several key stops including Marrickville, Canterbury, Campsie, and Wiley Park. The new service replaces the former T3 heavy-rail line and is expected to carry 50 per cent more passengers with increased frequency, running every four minutes during peak periods.

The project faced delays exceeding two years due to technical challenges in integrating metro systems with existing heavy-rail easements. Recent issues included platform curvature preventing certain train doors from opening safely.

Beyond transport, the metro is driving a major housing transformation. New rezoning controls around nine stations aim to accommodate up to 59,500 additional homes. Significant density increases are planned for suburbs such as Bankstown, which is earmarked for 14,000 new homes, as well as Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Belmore, and Lakemba. Developers have already begun lodging large-scale applications, including a $1.8 billion redevelopment of Bankstown Central.