The Sydney Metro City and Southwest lines are now connected with the existing Metro North West Line, ahead of testing starting later 2023.
Connecting these two metro lines brings turn-up-and-go metro services deep under Sydney Harbour and through the CBD one step closer.
New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the new City and Southwest metro line would revolutionise the city’s public transport network.
“This marks a major milestone in the delivery of Australia’s biggest public transport project with the final tracks now laid to connect these two metro lines,” Mr Perrottet said.
The new City and Southwest metro line will revolutionise how Sydneysiders travel by providing fast, reliable services at seven new stations under the Sydney CBD and in the city’s north.
The Northern Connection, linking the Sydney Metro City & Southwest line to the Metro North West Line was constructed over two years, including the installation of tracks and all operational services in the 15.5km twin tunnels between Chatswood and Sydenham.
The final connection of the two metro railways was made with four sections of rail and almost a kilometre of copper overhead wires between Chatswood Station and the new Sydney Metro City & Southwest tunnels.
New South Wales Transport Minister, David Elliott, said the Northern Connection links the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line to the existing Metro North West line marking another significant construction breakthrough in this state.
“The New South Wales Government is delivering Australia’s biggest public transport project right before our eyes,” Mr Elliott said.
“Across the Sydney Metro City and Southwest, more than 5,000 people are currently employed and 50,000 people will have worked on the project by the time it is complete.”
From 2024, passengers will be able to travel from Tallawong in Sydney’s north, into the city in under 50 minutes, Castle Hill to Barangaroo in 33 minutes and Chatswood to Martin Place in 11 minutes on a fast and reliable metro service.
Member for Willoughby, Tim James, said the Northern Connection is a 200m section of rail corridor connecting the northern suburbs to the Southwest.
“This major connection was constructed over two years with workers installing tracks and operational services in the 15.5km twin tunnels between Chatswood and Sydenham,” Mr James said.
“Six teams and more than 200 workers worked around the clock over one weekend to make the final connection. It was a mammoth effort.”
A rigorous testing and commissioning program along the new alignment will commence later this year, ahead of passenger services starting through the Sydney CBD in 2024.
New stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo, along with new underground platforms at Central Station will open in 2024.
