First look inside Sydney Metro's new airport trains

The three-car train has capacity to move 645 passengers at a time and is the first of 12 trains for the 23-kilometre line that will connect Western Sydney communities with the new airport and Bradfield City Centre. 

After arriving by ship in Port Kembla, the train was transported to the purpose-built Orchard Hills SMF for assembly. Here, each train will undergo a series of static testing checks while stationary to make sure key onboard systems are powered, connected and working correctly.  

Completion of static tests is an important readiness step before the train moves into dynamic testing commencing on the line later this year. 

The remaining 11 train sets for the project will arrive progressively throughout the year and into 2027, from Vienna where they have been manufactured at the Siemens Mobility production plant.  

The Western Sydney Airport line's new fleet of trains has been specifically designed to meet the needs of airport passengers, workers and local communities with features including: 

• Wide, accessible aisles through the centre of the train – approximately 30 centimetres wider than those on M1 Line trains - to allow for ease of movement for passengers travelling with luggage;    
• Room for luggage storage below seats; 
• 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 groups, plus traditional longitudinal (sideways) seating;   
• Designated wheelchair spaces and accessible areas;     
• Hearing loops in all carriages for enhanced accessibility and    
• Up to eight bicycle storage spaces on every train.   

A standout feature within the new trains is the Indigenous seating upholstery design that reflects connection to Ngurra (Country) and Badu (water) by Dharug artists Leanne Watson Redpath, Tina Barahanos and Alexandra Byrne (BBR). The artwork draws on ancient pathways and cultural journeys across Dharug Country and was selected to reflect the communities along the line. 

Construction is continuing across the 23-kilometre, six-station line, with significant progress being made along the corridor. All station platforms are complete, and more than half of the 40 escalators installed.   

Work is underway to install 108 platform screen doors to safely separate passengers from the rail corridor with 50 per cent of these now in place.  

Once operational, passengers will be able to travel between St Marys Metro Station and Airport Terminal Station in around 15 minutes, providing a fast, safe and reliable connection to Western Sydney International Airport. 

Free public transport will connect to the airport before then, with buses running between St Marys and the airport from the first passenger flight arrival.  Buses will run every 30 minutes between 4.30am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 4.30am to 1am Friday and Saturday, with an expected journey time of about 30 minutes in normal traffic.