TRAIN testing started on the newly converted 13.4km section of Sydney’s City & Southwest metro line on April 3. Trial running follows extensive work to transform the 130-year-old former Bankstown Line to modern driverless metro standards.
The first train travelled along the length of the line in 5 hours, travelling at no more than 5km/h. When the extended metro line from Sydenham to Bankstown opens next year, the estimated journey time will be 11 minutes. The inaugural trip is the start of a rigorous testing and commissioning programme that includes more than 6500 hours of train testing between Sydenham and Bankstown.
The initial testing phase will see trains travelling at speeds of less than 25km/h, driven manually with two staff onboard. The tests will include checking clearance on curves and turnouts and gauge clearance on platforms, as well as platform screen door interface, mechanical gap filler and communications checks. Trains will be tested under loaded conditions to simulate full passenger loads.
Future testing phases will involve travelling at higher speeds and a transition from manual to automated train operations.
The first 17.1km section of Sydney’s 30.5km City & Southwest metro opened last August.
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