Sydney metro city

Revolutionising travel in Sydney

This initiative is revolutionising travel in Australia's biggest city by connecting Sydney's north west, west, south west, and greater west with fast, reliable, turn-up-and-go metro services featuring fully accessible stations. Not only is it Australia's most technologically advanced railway, but it’s also the nation's only fully accessible, driverless train service. A truly transformative project for the people of Sydney and visitors alike.

In 2024, following the successful delivery of the Northwest project in 2019, the new section from Chatswood to Sydenham officially opened, enabling metro trains to run from Sydney’s booming North West region, under Sydney Harbour, and through new underground stations in the CBD. The city line has unlocked an additional 15.5-kilometres of new metro rail to transport passengers around the busiest parts of the Sydney CBD. Fast and reliable services are accessed via six brand-new underground stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal and Waterloo, as well as new metro platforms at Central and Sydenham.

Since the opening of the city section of Sydney Metro in August 2024, the performance has been exceptional, with over 1.4 million trips recorded in the first week alone. This new metro line has revolutionised the way people move around Sydney, offering a fast, reliable, and efficient mode of transport. With services running every four minutes during peak times and over 99% on-time performance, commuters are enjoying a seamless travel experience. The metro has significantly reduced travel times and congestion, making it a preferred choice for daily commutes and enhancing connectivity across the city.

The project has also delivered significant social, environmental, and economic impact. Socially, it has improved accessibility and mobility for all residents, by providing fully accessible stations and services. Environmentally, the metro reduces carbon emissions by encouraging the use of public transport over private vehicles, contributing to a greener Sydney. Economically, the project has created thousands of jobs during construction and enables passengers to be more connected to job centres and educational institutions, delivering more opportunities across Sydney.

The newly expanded metro network provides unrivalled connectivity to Sydney’s employment, financial and retail districts; unlocks the Barangaroo harbourside precinct by delivering its first railway station and has capacity to move more people across Sydney Harbour in the busiest hour of the peak than the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel combined.

In 2017, Mott MacDonald was appointed technical advisor alongside our joint venture partner Arcadis as part of the METRON consortium. METRON was responsible for the Underground Station Design and Technical Services, ultimately designing five of the new city-centre underground stations on the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project up to concept level – Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Gadigal and Waterloo. The initial contract engagement was scheduled for nine months. However, due to the satisfaction with our work, contract provisions were made to extend our services. This extension included detailed design and construction support for Barangaroo Station, as well as advisory services for the remaining stations.

Additional responsibilities included contractor programme scheduling around tunnel and station work to minimise downtime, along with providing geotechnical and risk advice. These efforts solidified our position as a trusted technical advisor, supporting the project's success and efficiency.

“Everyone who worked on Sydney Metro City in the METRON joint venture really enjoyed the experience and we’re so happy to see the DNA of our designs still clearly visible in the final stations. It’s clear when talking to Sydneysiders, they’re really proud of their new metro” 

Michael Barron Technical Director, Transport

Customer-centric design

Central to our approach was the integration of customer-centric design. We achieved this by embedding a customer experience subconsultant within our team, closely collaborating with our human factors and pedestrian simulation teams. Utilising our digital station models, we created low-fidelity virtual reality models of each station. These models were tested with real rail users, carefully selected to represent the
diverse user base expected to utilise the system. We could show how our design met or exceeded customer expectations and also how it had evolved to incorporate customer suggestions and concerns through a single design phase.

Feedback from passengers was invaluable, informing the design process and leading to the development of high-fidelity virtual reality models. These refined models addressed passenger pain points and were tested with a second group of rail users to to ensure customer requirements were met. This approach combined intuitive natural wayfinding, comfort, and security.

At each site, we conducted heritage evaluations to assess the impact of our stations on the context of heritage buildings. We identified areas where heritage interpretation could be incorporated within the station's public areas. . We take pride in the collaborative efforts of our design team, which brought together architects, engineers, and the client to deliver an architectural vision that prioritised both the
customer and the surrounding communities. 

Digital working environment

Successful implementation of the digital delivery processes early in the design phase set up a project which delivered a coordinated design from multiple design offices. As the digital lead, our objectives were clear: to apply sound information management principles, create a
best practice virtual environment, and significantly improve the use of technology by the client, principal contractors, and suppliers. By making the project digital by default, we unlocked substantial programme and cost savings. A coordinated 3D model was used across all subcontractors and with the client, eliminating the need for unnecessary drawings. This not only streamlined the process but also allowed all stakeholders to work from the same accurate and up-to-date information, reducing the likelihood of errors and rework.

One of the standout achievements of our digital working environment was the delivery of a coordinated BIM model for the stations designed by METRON. This model is not just a tool for the construction phase but is also invaluable for asset management. The embedded data and high level of accuracy within the model meant that it could be utilised long after the construction was complete, providing ongoing benefits in terms of maintenance and operational efficiency.

The official opening of Sydney Metro City means 45 metro trains now run up to 445 additional services each week day, with trains arriving every four minutes during peak hours. The addition of new platforms at Sydenham and Central Stations, as well as the introduction of the six new underground stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal, and Waterloo, has significantly improved access and enhanced city connectivity with more than 200,000 people using Sydney Metro every day.

“Since 2012 I have witnessed the crucial role our teams have played in shaping this world-class metro system. The design right through to system assurance, the collaboration, innovation and technical solutions that underpin this project will have a lasting impact on our vibrant city.”

Frances Badelow Managing Director, Australia

We are proud to have played a key role in the ambitious Sydney Metro project since 2012, contributing across the entire project development lifecycle to support great outcomes for passengers and communities. Our services have spanned from the early planning stages and business case development to detailed design, construction support, and commissioning. Over 1,000 of our dedicated team members have played a pivotal role in shaping Australia’s biggest public transport project to date.

Today, we continue to collaborate closely with Sydney Metro, providing technical advice and delivering innovative solutions to meet the challenges of creating a future-ready metro system. This project is not just about infrastructure; it’s about transforming lives. By enhancing accessibility, reducing travel times, and fostering economic growth, we are helping to build a more connected and inclusive Sydney.

Our commitment to social outcomes demonstrates that the benefits of this transformative project are felt by all residents and visitors, making Sydney a more vibrant and sustainable city for generations to come.