High speed testing has begun on one of Sydney’s biggest rail projects, with trains now running at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour on the line.

The NSW Government has announced that high speed testing has commenced on the Sydney Metro line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

Set to open in the second half of next year, the project involves an upgrade of the existing T3 Bankstown Lined between Sydenham southwest of the CBD to Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest to metro standards.

Previously, the section of the line was designed for ordinary Sydney Trains. These are traditional double-decker trains which are operated by drivers and are designed for longer distance suburban travel.

Under the project, however, this section of the network is being upgraded for Sydney Metro trains. These are single-decker driverless trains which are designed for high-frequency, high capacity ‘turn up and go’  journeys over a shorter distance.

This includes running a train every four minutes during peak hour.

Stations along the line will have full accessibility including lifts, improved CCTV, new platform screen doors for safety, platforms which are level with train floors, minimal gaps between platforms and trains, new or upgraded concourses and new station entrances.

Once complete, the southwest extension will join with the popular M1 Line at Sydenham to create a 66-kilometre line of 31 stations through the Sydney CBD to Tallawong in Sydney’s northwest.

Testing at lower speeds of 25 kilometers per hour began in April.

This has seen a single train complete more than 700 hours and travel 3,000 kilometers at the lower speed.

In the high-speed testing phase, the train speed will increase to 100 kilometers per hour. More trains will be added to the line as testing progresses.

All up, a minimum 9,000 hours and 30,000 kilometers of combined testing will be completed before the line opens.

At station level, the transformation of the Southwest line is around 75 percent complete.

At the moment:

  • Painting and tiling are underway at all 11 stations, and the installation of Opal gates is nearing completion.
  • Testing and commissioning of platform screen doors and mechanical gap fillers are advancing. The safety technology has passed its initial tests at Dulwich Hill, Belmore, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Bankstown stations and is ready for integration testing with the test train later this year.
  • Across all stations, Sydney Metro’s ‘M’ station signage is being fitted. A total of 2,393 wayfinding signs will be installed by opening day.
  • Communication systems, including passenger information display screens, are being mounted. Installation and testing of speakers, CCTV, door security, and hearing loops is ongoing.

(image by strata8 via Wikipedia)

NSW Premier Chris Minns welcomed the progress.

“High-speed testing on the Southwest Metro line is a critical step forward to delivering what will be a game changing piece of transport infrastructure,” Minns said.

“Converting a 130-year-old heavy rail line to metro standard is a big undertaking, which is why this stage of testing will be exhaustive.

“We understand the patience this has required from local communities and businesses, and I want to thank them for sticking with us. Their support has helped make one of the biggest transport transformations in Sydney’s history possible.”

 

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