Passengers across Sydney have been given their first look at future travel to the city’s second international airport when it opens in 2026.

The New South Wales Government has unveiled a life-size prototype train carriage for the new Western Sydney Meto Line.

Set to open in late 2026, the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Line will connect the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (also expected to open in 2026) to the broader public transport network in Sydney.

The 23-kilometer line will connect the airport and surrounding aerotropolis with St Mary’s Station, from which passengers will be able to connect with regular transport services.

The new line will be serviced by twelve new trains, which will have the capacity to move up to 7,740 passengers each hour.

The trains are being constructed by the Parklife Metro consortium which involves Plenary, Webuild, Siemens and RATP Dev.

  • High resolution displays showing real-time flight information via a direct feed from the Airport;
  • Multiple seating choices in each carriage, including front and rear facing seating for people travelling in larger groups and traditional metro longitudinal (sideways) seating
  • A wide, accessible aisle through the centre of the train to allow for ease of movement for passengers travelling with luggage
  • Wheelchair areas and accessible spaces
  • Hearing loops in all carriages; and
  • Four bicycle storage spaces on every train.

Assembled from a flat pack in a Western Sydney warehouse, the prototype carriage is a full-scale replica which closely mimics the final product’s shape, size and design features.

The mock-up will allow future passengers to test out the carriage and provide feedback on comfort, usability, accessibility and safety. This will include seat design, boarding experience, and handhold placement.

The prototype will also help transport authorities and manufacturers evaluate and finalise aspects of the train such as interior lighting, emergency features, and passenger information display systems.

Engineers and designers will be able to use the prototype to validate the final design choices. This will ensure that the layout, materials, and ergonomics meet the intended specifications.

Feedback which has been collated from extensive assessments has helped refine the final design for the 12 new trains before they go into production later this month.

Final checks are also being made to confirm the upholstery design for the train seats. This will feature a specially commissioned artwork by Western Sydney creative team BBR, led by Dharug artist Leanne Redpath, with Tina Barahanos and Alexandra Byrne.

The artwork called Ngurra Baduwa includes reference to Ngurra (Country) and Badu (water) running through Cumberland Plain, the region where the new 23-kilometre metro line will be located.

The grey and blue patterns and colours for the general seats are reflective of the night sky. Priority seats are yellow and tell a daytime story about meeting places around waterholes found through fields of wattle flowers.

All up, around 2,300 square metres of fabric will be needed to upholster every seat in the new trains.  This is equivalent in length to five basketball courts.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen welcomes the prototype’s release.

“Being able to look, feel, touch and experience the new Metros is helping our teams put the finishing touches on these trains before they go into production,” Haylen said.

“Every train will be fully accessible, beautifully air-conditioned, and a really comfortable way to travel to Sydney’s new airport.

“Once the new Airport metro line opens, each of the 12 new metro trains will have capacity to comfortably move 645 people between Bradfield, St Marys and the new International Airport.”

 

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