Southwest Metro delayed due to industrial action
Western Sydney commuters waiting for the Sydney Metro from Bankstown will continue to be forced onto train replacement buses until 2026 in a key setback.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Western Sydney commuters waiting for the Sydney Metro from Bankstown will be forced onto train replacement buses for longer after the Minns government confirmed the line will be delayed until 2026 due to industrial action.
The conversion of the T3 Bankstown line was originally designed to take 12 months, to be completed around September this year.
Now, businesses holding out for the new Metro will be forced to wait until an indeterminate time in 2026 due to delayed from a series of industrial bans by the Combined Rail Union, with bans from the Electrical Trades Union, causing the most chaos.
Acting Transport Minister John Graham revealed on Wednesday, the project had faced more than 130 days of delays due to industrial bans limiting access to worksites and preventing the provision of work permits, which are required for contractors to complete work near live electrical components.
As a result, the dynamic train testing along the new Metro line was unable to start, which is a timely process that can take months. The testing is an essential part which helps establish that the line is safe to use for passengers.
Mr Graham was unable to give an indication of how long the testing might take, meaning commuters could be waiting for the Southwest Metro up till the end of next year.
So far, all platform screen door and mechanical gap fillers from Marrickville to Bankstown have been installed, along with 28.3 kilometres of hi-tech railway fencing.
Mr Graham said the train testing would start, following the approval of the National Safety Regulator
“The Government has always said that this complex and difficult project may take longer than one year. We need to let people know that over 130 days of work have been impacted by industrial action. That means we’ll complete this project in 2026,“ he said.
“Works like upgrades to overhead wiring and station platforms, as well as electrical work to disconnect the line from the wider train network haven’t been able to proceed on schedule. Testing will start soon but industrial action has been very disruptive.”
Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan said the delay would have an impact on how much the Southwest Metro would cost taxpayers but said he couldn’t comment on what the extra costs will be.
“We’ll be working to finalise the full impacts when we get fully into testing,” he said.
“We did have a very detailed plan that had been put together that had some contingencies but it’s the cumulative impact of not being able to access those key parts of the network and do those disconnection works safely that meant we actually had to push the testing back.”
Opposition Transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the delay could have been avoided by the government taking the rail unions to court sooner. The Combined Rail Unions have been prevented from taking more industrial action until July 1, after the Minns government took the unions to the Fair Work Commission last month.
Ms Ward said the southwest Metro delay was a blow to Western Sydney businesses.
“The last thing they need is more uncertainty,” she said.
“They don’t know when this will open, they know their businesses are relying on it and they know that the government has provided no answers other than some time in the future.
“That’s not good enough for a business trying to employ people in a cost of living crisis.”
Originally published as Southwest Metro delayed due to industrial action
Join the conversation
Named: Four murder charges laid over horrific crash
Police will allege a man who attempted to rob three men and a woman in a utility was responsible for their murders after the dual cab left a north coast road and crashed into a tree, killing all four.
Read more
Delivery drivers persons of interest in whopping weed crop find
Delivery drivers may be able to assist authorities as they investigate a cannabis farm worth over $8m and a “cleared out” living quarters found on the state’s Mid-North-Coast. Here’s what we know.
Read more