Push for Bankstown metro line to extend to Liverpool CBD

A push for the Bankstown metro line to extend into Sydney’s third CBD has been championed by a southwest Sydney councillor who says it would “support opportunity rather than sterilise it” for future generations.

Sydney Metro City and Southwest train TS5 leaves the tunnel at the southern dive during testing.

A push for the metro line to extend into Sydney’s third CBD has been championed by a southwest Sydney councillor who says it would “support opportunity rather than sterilise it” for future generations.

Canterbury-Bankstown Labour councillor David Walsh will table a motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting to advocate for an extension of the southwest metro line from Bankstown to Liverpool and routes to connect Bankstown and Parramatta.

Mr Walsh proposed for Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Parramatta and Cumberland councils to work with the Minister for Transport to identify a suitable corridor and station sites to maximise the “full potential of the southwest Metro”.

The conversion of the Sydenham to Bankstown heavy rail line into a metro corridor will start construction later this year with thousands of passengers forced onto a new dedicated bus fleet during the closure.

An artist's impression of how the new Bankstown station – where the Southwest Metro will terminate when work is completed in 2025. Photo: Supplied

Mr Walsh said there was “one shortcoming compared to the existing system”, as the new metro line would terminate at Bankstown and not follow the heavy rail corridor out to Liverpool.

“An extension to Liverpool would not merely replace the existing service, it would offer something new for suburbs that presently lack good public transport,” he said.

“It would also provide a faster, more direct route between two of Western Sydney’s most important city centres.”

Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun supported the motion and said “it was time” for infrastructure to be delivered for the people of Liverpool.

“Liverpool and southwestern Sydney has missed out on the promised transport infrastructure associated with the new airport,” he said.

“It is time for state and federal governments to deliver for the people of southwestern Sydney.”

Mr Walsh also called for an investigation into a direct metro connection between Bankstown and Parramatta to create a “true 30-minute city”.

“Parramatta has recently released its long-term vision for its city which clearly sees a future

Parramatta to Bankstown connection as being critical to its success,” he said.

Sydney Metro City and Southwest train TS5 travels through the crossover cavern just north of Barangaroo station during testing. Picture: Supplied.

“The strategic planning for these important connections can allow us to grow our city with the right focus, and most importantly support opportunity rather than sterilise it for future generations.”

A spokesman for Transport Minister Jo Haylen said while there were “no current plans to expand the Metro line from Bankstown to Liverpool, the rail timetable can continue to evolve to meet southwest Sydney’s future needs”.

“Transport for NSW will continually assess what services are required for this growing part of Sydney and will deliver improvements as future planning and budgets allow,” the spokesman said.

This comes after Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun called for an additional train line to run alongside the current T3 Line to connect western Sydney to the new metro rail from Bankstown to Sydney’s CBD.

The proposed express line would bypass nine stations including Warwick Farm, Cabramatta, Sefton, Yagoona, Villawood, Carramar and Sefton.

Mr Mannoun said he was disappointed the government had cancelled the planned extension of the metro to Liverpool.

“Without the metro being extended to Liverpool, there is a desperate need for a high-speed connection between Liverpool and Bankstown,” he said.