Recently, as part of the Sydney Metro West project, a series of contracts were awarded for the construction of the new underground metro line in the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales.
On January 28, Hitachi Rail announced that it had been selected to provide state-of-the-art technology solutions for one of Australia’s most important urban rail infrastructure projects – Sydney Metro West.
The company will participate as a subcontractor to the Metro Trains West consortium, formed by MTR Corporation and CRRC Corporation. In this role, Hitachi Rail will deliver systems essential to the operation of the network, including centralized operations control platforms and advanced integrated communications technologies. These solutions will contribute to increased operational reliability and an improved travel experience for users through more efficient connectivity and optimized services.
According to Sarfaraz Samnakay, Hitachi Rail’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, this contract confirms the company’s strong position in the local market and allows for the expansion of technologies that have already been successfully tested on other segments of the Sydney Metro network, such as Northwest, City, and Southwest.
Four major contracts
In December 2025, the Sydney Metro West project reached a significant milestone with the signing of four major contracts that will shape the future of the metro network and the surrounding urban area.
John Holland will be responsible for building approximately 60 km of rail infrastructure, including the installation of the necessary technical systems and the construction of the train maintenance facility. This year, after the completion of the tunnel excavation works, approximately 1,000 workers will begin work on the subway tunnels, at depths of up to 37 meters below the city.
At the same time, Gamuda has been appointed to design and build five new underground stations on the western section of the line. Each station will offer access to modern subway services with international standards and will be designed as a vibrant urban space with its own identity, adapted to local characteristics and the future development of the area.
The contract for trains, operating systems, maintenance, and long-term network operation was awarded to the Trains West consortium. It provides for the delivery of 16 metro trains equipped with smart technologies based on artificial intelligence, as well as related railway equipment. The consortium will manage the maintenance and operation of the network for 15 years after the official opening to the public, estimated in 2032.
The fourth contract was awarded to the Metropolis consortium—comprising Lendlease, Mirvac, and Coombes Property Group—for the development of Hunter Street Station and the adjacent commercial area. This intervention is one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects in Sydney’s CBD, including the construction of the busiest station on the metro line and two stacked commercial buildings that the station will serve. The main works on the station are scheduled to commence in late 2026, under the coordination of Lendlease.
This set of contracts marks a major step forward in the modernization of Sydney’s transport infrastructure and urban development, combining cutting-edge technology, operational efficiency, and innovative urban design.
Contract announcements for the Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, and Pyrmont stations within the Sydney Metro West project are scheduled for 2026. In parallel, a shortlist of three consortia competing for the Pyrmont station integrated development contract has been released.
The selected consortia include:
- Gamuda Engineering, together with Gamuda (Australia) and Urban Property Group Australasia;
- John Holland associated with Third.i Property; and
- Watpac Construction in partnership with Plenary Origination.
The winning consortium will be responsible for building the Pyrmont underground station and the real estate development above it, which will include a 31-story building. This will comprise five levels dedicated to commercial and retail space and up to 160 apartments, integrating public transport with urban space and housing.
The Sydney Metro West line will be a new 24 km underground metro route with nine confirmed stations, designed to double rail capacity between Parramatta and the city center (CBD). The line is expected to be operational from 2032.
The Sydney Metro project is Sydney’s largest public transport program and includes three major lines: Southwest, West, and Western Sydney Airport Line, each contributing to the modernization and expansion of the metropolitan subway network.
As part of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, a test train traveled the entire length of the line from Tallawong to Bankstown, part of the Southwest Metro, in January. Along the 66 km line served by 31 stations, the train reached a speed of 100 km/h. More than 500 of the 9,000 test hours have been completed since the train began high-speed testing at up to 100 km/h in November 2025.
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