The first of 12 fully automated Siemens trains destined for the new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line has arrived in Australia and is set to enter the testing programme. The trains will operate driverless, at GoA4 automation level, on a 23 km line that will connect the west of the city with the new Western Sydney International Airport.
Siemens Mobility has delivered the first train for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project, marking the start of a new phase in one of the most significant rail infrastructure projects currently under construction in Australia.
It is the first Siemens Mobility metro train delivered to Australia since 2006 and the first of the 12 three-car railcars planned for the project.
The train will initially be tested at the Orchard Hills depot and maintenance centre in New South Wales, after which dynamic testing on the main line will commence.
Driverless trains, GoA4 level
All 12 trains will operate at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4), the highest level of automation, which enables fully automated operation without a driver on board.
The vehicles are based on Siemens Mobility’s Inspiro High Capacity platform, but have been adapted to the specific requirements of the new line in Sydney.
“The arrival of the first train in Australia marks an important milestone for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project and for Siemens Mobility’s global turnkey project business. We can now move on to the next stage, which involves dynamic testing in Sydney,” said Léon Soulier, CEO of the Turnkey Business Unit at Siemens Mobility.
23 km line to the new airport
The new metro line will be 23 km long and will connect Greater Western Sydney with Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the town centre of Bradfield.
The project is being carried out by the Parklife Metro consortium, comprising Siemens Mobility, Plenary Group, Webuild and RATP Dev, through a public-private partnership with Sydney Metro.
The contract includes not only the 12 driverless trains, but also signalling systems, electrification, telecommunications, platform doors and the depot.
Siemens Mobility’s share of the contract is worth approximately 900 million EUR.
Tested in Austria and Germany prior to delivery
Before being shipped to Australia, the trains have already undergone an extensive initial commissioning and testing phase.
The tests were carried out in Vienna and at the Siemens Mobility test and validation centre in Wildenrath, Germany.
The tests included assessments of the trains’ behaviour in windy conditions, carried out in a climate chamber, to verify their operation under various environmental conditions.
Interior inspired by the local landscape and culture
The trains will feature large windows, configurable interiors and level access, as well as dedicated spaces for wheelchair users and wide doors.
On board there will be screens displaying real-time passenger information, CCTV cameras, emergency intercoms and wide gangways between railcars.
The interior design draws on the natural and cultural heritage of the Cumberland Plain, the region through which the new line runs.
The upholstery was also inspired by the traditions of First Nations peoples. Standard seats feature grey and blue tones inspired by the night sky, whilst the priority seats, in yellow, represent gathering places near water sources and the local vegetation.
Railigent X, used for the first time in Australia
The project will also mark the first implementation in Australia of the Railigent X platform developed by Siemens Mobility.
The system utilises data collected from vehicles and infrastructure for fleet monitoring, remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance, including through analytics tools based on artificial intelligence.
Siemens Mobility will also provide system maintenance under a 15-year service contract.
The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project was awarded in 2022 and is designed to be a fully automated and carbon-neutral system. According to Siemens Mobility, its construction is expected to support approximately 14,000 jobs during the construction phase.
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