Sydney Metro: Nation’s biggest transport project gets green light
The national rail safety regulator has approved a new section of Australia’s biggest transport project, a multibillion-dollar metro rail line that will run under Sydney Harbour, after the original opening date was pushed back.
It remains unclear when the $21 billion Sydney Metro project will start operations after the Office of the National Safety Regulator greenlit the project on Thursday, stating that the launch date was “a matter for the NSW government via its relevant agencies”.
The new section will run from Chatswood in the city’s northwest to Sydenham in the inner west, running under the harbour and through the CBD.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The State Government was forced to abandon the original launch date of August 4 due to a lack of final approval from ONSR, industrial action and an incident on part of the Metro Northwest line between Chatswood and Tallawong.
Emergency services rescued about 100 commuters who had been trapped in train carriages for about two hours after a meltdown stopped 31 driverless trains.
The Fire Brigade Employees Union also imposed a temporary ban on emergency management exercises on the metro amid a stoush over pay.
The union on Wednesday warned the line was still not ready to open after a firefighter received an electric shock during a training exercise earlier in August.
“What if this occurred during an actual incident such as a fire?” the union’s secretary Leighton Drury said.
“This could have devastating consequences for not only firefighters but the general public.”
The Nightly approached NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen for comment.
