Project overview

About Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport

The new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport metro railway will become the transport spine for Greater Western Sydney, connecting communities and travellers with the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the growing region.

The city-shaping project, from St Marys through to the new airport and Bradfield City Centre, will provide a major economic stimulus for Western Sydney, supporting more than 14,000 jobs during construction for the NSW and national economies.

The 23-kilometer new railway will link residential areas with job hubs including the new Bradfield Metro Station (previously Aerotropolis), and connect travellers from the new airport to the rest of Sydney’s public transport system.

The Australian and NSW Governments have awarded all three major contracts for Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project. The tunnelling contract was awarded in December 2021, to CPB Contractors and Ghella Joint Venture to build the new twin metro rail tunnels. In March 2022, the contract to deliver approximately 10.6 kilometres of elevated viaduct, earthworks for track formation, a rail bridge over the new M12 motorway, a rail bridge within the airport and associated works, was awarded to CPB Contractors and United Infrastructure Joint Venture. 

In December 2022, the largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract in New South Wales was awarded to Parklife Metro. Parklife Metro will deliver six new stations between St Marys and the new Bradfield City Centre, 12 new metro trains, core rail systems and the stabling and maintenance facility to be built at Orchard Hills. Parklife Metro will also operate and maintain Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line for 15 years after it becomes operational. 

Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport stations

Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project has been working with stakeholders and industry to create a project that will deliver a fast, safe and reliable metro and support the success of the future Western Parkland City.

The project includes six new metro stations at:

• St Marys, interchanging with the existing suburban railway station and connecting customers with the rest of Sydney’s rail system
• Orchard Hills, to service a future commercial and mixed-use precinct
• Luddenham, to service a future education, innovation and commercial precinct
• two stations within the airport site, at the airport terminal and at the airport business park the commercial heart of the Western Sydney named Bradfield City Centre.

Exact station locations have now been confirmed.

The Australian and NSW Governments have a shared objective of having Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport operational when new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens for passenger services.

Planning and compliance

Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project received planning approval from both the Australian and NSW Governments in 2021.  Planning approval from the Australian Government for Sydney Metro’s rail development work located within the boundary of Western Sydney International (on-airport) was received in September 2021, while NSW Government planning approval was received in July 2021.

The Environmental Impact Statement was on public exhibition between 21 October and 2 December 2020. A Submissions Report was prepared to address submissions received from the community and stakeholders through the NSW planning process. The Australian Government off-airport approvals were received in June 2021.

Early works started in 2020, with major construction, including station excavation, commencing in late 2022.

Further information about planning and compliance documentation for the project is available here, and from the websites of our major contractors involved in the project:

• Station Boxes and Tunnelling (SBT) – CPB Contractors and Ghella Joint Venture
• Surface, Civil and Alignment Works (SCAW) – CPB Contractors and United Infrastructure Joint Venture
• Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations and Maintenance (SSTOM) – Parklife Metro

If you are having difficulty locating a document, please contact the project at sydneymetrowsa@transport.nsw.gov.au or call our 24-hour community information line on 1800 717 703.

City-shaping rail

Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project is a key part of delivering an integrated transport system for the Western Parkland City. The Western Parkland City covers parts of Greater Western Sydney including the established centres of Greater Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown-Macarthur.

The airport will support nearly 28,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2031 and underpin the development of Bradfield City Centre, at the centre of the Western Parkland City.

The new Bradfield City Centre will support around 200,000 new jobs in industries such as aerospace and defence, manufacturing, freight and logistics, tourism and research.

Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project will play an integral role in providing safe, reliable and integrated public transport for local communities and industry in supporting the 30-year strategic vision for Transport for NSW's Western Sydney Airport Precinct plan. Western Sydney Airport Precinct.

The Western Sydney City Deal

Supporting the airport and Bradfield City Centre is a key part of the Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year agreement signed in March 2018 by the Australian and NSW governments and eight councils of the Western Parkland City.

Delivering Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project, connecting the Bradfield City Centre and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport with the rest of Sydney’s rail system at St Marys is a key City Deal commitment.

For more information about the Western Sydney City Deal, visit the  City Deal website.

Project alignment

Link to text version of project alignment map.