A Sydney Metro project will go ahead after months of speculation whether growing costs would halt plans.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced on Tuesday his government would convert the rail line between Sydenham and Bankstown into a driverless service.
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The news however comes with major disruptions for commuters, as construction will close 13 kilometres of the T3 Bankstown line for at least 12 months.
“It will be a big undertaking and require 12 months for the line to be shut down, causing inconvenience for this community,” Mr Minns said.
“But [it is] a much needed and important improvement to transport service to this part of metropolitan Sydney.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns
Construction is scheduled to begin between July and October 2024.
Buses will replace train services to Sydenham, while trains will continue its services from Bankstown to the CBD via the Lidcombe line.
Confirmation of the project comes as Mr Minns said the fate of the $25-billion Metro West connecting the CBD and Parramatta remained uncertain.
An independent review on the project remains ongoing.
“We’re not ready to release that information at the moment, but I’m not taking it off the table,” he said.
Mr Minns said on 2GB on Monday he needed to investigate how the project would be paid for, with it already $12 billion over budget.
“The cost escalation on this is gigantic. I’m being told by Infrastructure NSW to expect more than $25 billion,” he said.
“So I‘m simply making the point I need to look at this project … I need to (explain) when we announce the next stage of Metro West … how it will be paid for.”
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