The frenzy that overcame Sydneysiders when the latest stretch of Sydney Metro opened its doors back in August was unprecedented – a unifying wave of city pride. And in glorious news for public transport enthusiasts across the city, that was just the beginning – with the Sydney Metro network set to comprise 46 stations across Sydney once it’s complete. If you can’t bear to wait until 2027 for the Western Sydney Airport Metro line to open, you’re in luck – a life-size prototype of the carriages set to be used on the new line has been unveiled to the public. The carriage doesn’t actually go anywhere yet, and the public can’t see it in the flesh (yet), but hopefully, this BTS will scratch the itch.
Brought to life from a flat pack in a Western Sydney warehouse, the carriage prototype provides a sense of what it will be like travelling on one of the 12 new trains on the metro line connecting to Sydney’s shiny new airport. Running through Sydney’s west for 23 kilometres, the Western Sydney Airport Metro line will extend from St Marys to Bradfield, with Transport for NSW predicting that the line will become “the backbone of transportation in Greater Western Sydney” – with the capacity to carry 7,740 passengers per hour in each direction.
The prototype carriage closely mimics all of the design and safety features set to be used in the new metro carriages: multiple seating choices, wide aisles, wheelchair access and accessible spaces, high-res displays showing route details, hearing loops, four bicycle spaces per train and specially commissioned artwork by Western Sydney creative team BBR, led by Dharug artist Leanne Redpath, with Tina Barahanos and Alexandra Byrne. The artwork is possibly the most notable feature of the new carriages – a thoughtful nod to Aboriginal culture, titled Ngurra Baduwa, in reference to Ngurra (Country) and Badu (water) running through Cumberland Plain, the region where the new 23-kilometre metro line will be located.
Currently, the prototype is being housed in a warehouse and accessible only for transport authorities, engineers and designers to check and tweak final elements like interior lighting and passenger info display screens.
“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,” says Transport Minister Jo Haylen.
The prototype hasn’t opened for public access yet, but we’ve got a feeling Sydney’s Metro-heads will find their way to call for early access to this glimpse into the future. You can learn more about the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project over here.
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