What Sydney Metro actually knew about delays to new airport rail line

3 months ago 19

The NSW government expected the opening of an $11 billion metro rail line to Sydney’s new international airport to be delayed until December 2027 at least as far back as a year ago, despite public assurances since that it was working hard to finish the project in time for the first passenger flights late next year.

Confidential documents authored by Sydney Metro, the government agency overseeing the project, show that, as of November last year, it was targeting a completion date of late December 2027 for the 23-kilometre driverless train line, which was a year later than originally planned.

Premier Chris Minns (left) and Transport Minister John Graham visit the site of the terminal station on the Western Sydney Airport metro line in August.

Despite the Sydney Metro documents citing a December 2027 completion date, Premier Chris Minns said in August the government was “working incredibly hard” to finish the rail line in time for the opening of Western Sydney Airport in late 2026.

“We can’t guarantee it, but we’re working very, very hard to meet that deadline,” he said on August 12. “If we miss it, it won’t be by an astronomical amount.”

Asked at the time whether the worst-case scenario was for the line’s opening to be delayed by up to a year, Minns said the government “did not anticipate that”.

Coalition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the premier’s previous comments did not line up with the facts, and it looked like a cover-up.

Western Sydney Airport is due to open to passengers late next year.

“Sydney Metro documents from November last year confirm delays the premier denied three months ago. That’s not a mistake – it is a cover-up,” she said.

The Herald has previously revealed that a dispute between the government and the private consortium building the rail line will delay its completion until December 2027, and blow out its cost by $2.2 billion. Opening the line at the same time as the airport – in late 2026 – had been promised by successive state and federal governments.

Transport Minister John Graham said the government was in negotiations with the contractor on claims and design modifications it inherited on the project.

“My direction to Sydney Metro and Transport for NSW has been to protect taxpayer money. The NSW government has not announced an opening date for this project and that document does not represent that announcement,” he said. “When we have an announcement on the opening date we will let the public know.”

The government did not answer specific questions about when or if Sydney Metro notified the minister or premier about the targeted completion date of December 2027. Minns’ office and Sydney Metro were approached for comment.

The new airport rail line between St Marys and the new city of Bradfield via Western Sydney Airport had been budgeted to cost $11 billion, to be jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

Confidential documents have previously revealed the consortium known as Parklife Metro demanded a $2.2 billion payment from Sydney Metro early this year for “unforseen disruption, delay and increased scope of work”. It cited the installation of elevated walkways in tunnels for passenger evacuations, which is now estimated to cost $726 million and has added to the delays.

A station close to the Western Sydney Airport terminal is one of six under construction along the 23-kilometre metro rail line.

In a major U-turn three years ago, Sydney Metro agreed to build emergency exits closer together in tunnels after NSW’s fire and rescue agency warned of serious safety risks to emergency workers if they were half a kilometre apart.

Six stations are under construction along the 23-kilometre line, which is a combination of tunnels, surface and viaduct sections. All up, twin tunnels almost 10 kilometres long have been built.

The line will initially have 12 trains an hour, which together will be capable of carrying 7800 people in each direction. The airport trains will be about 30 centimetres wider than Sydney’s other metro trains to cater for flyers who are lugging bags.