Sydney’s first metro is transforming the city by delivering faster, more sustainable, and accessible transportation, reducing travel times and connecting diverse communities. The project overcame geotechnical and engineering challenges, including tunnelling under Sydney Harbour and creating seamless interchanges.

Digital innovation and sustainable practices, such as low-carbon concrete and recycled materials, were integral to the design, reducing emissions and waste. The metro enhances connectivity, boosts community well-being, and offers accessible, turn-up-and-go services that improve daily lives and unlock new opportunities for Sydney's growing population. 

A historic development for an iconic city

Sydney’s transport network was struggling to cope with a growing population with commuter hubs and arterial routes approaching capacity. Fast and reliable public transport options were needed. For Sydney Metro, the challenges of designing significantly faster infrastructure were immense.  

From geotechnical planning of the tunnels, to designing accessible stations that inspire, we’re proud to help them deliver this ambitious project. With a turn-up-and-go service below the city, it’s enabling the people of Sydney to thrive, through modern, sustainable transportation, for the benefit of all. 

The geotechnical design was particularly complex. With the number of buildings and tunnels in the city, the routes had to bypass existing infrastructure and any new proposed developments. Tunnelling across Sydney Harbour was also an immense, but necessary engineering feat. The underwater route provides a public transport connection for two sides of the city that were previously linked by the iconic, but often congested Sydney Harbour Bridge, or by driving through the cross-city tunnel. 

Connections and interchanges were also carefully considered. Our team carried out a deep analysis and survey of existing connections, not only to avoid disruption but also to ensure integration with current journeys. So, the new metro would connect with the existing rail network, with effortless interchanges for passengers.

Digital design and innovation played an essential role here. We combined data management and virtual reality to create a bespoke programme to meet the complexities of the project. This technology would model passenger flow and simulate future scenarios to help prepare for uncertainties like increased rainfall over a period of time due to climate change and potential new building developments.

Customising conventional software also allowed us to automate everything from wiring to the design of the rail sleepers, saving thousands of hours of work. Meanwhile, integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) with other software platforms meant that design engineers could represent and document entire buildings and systems in one place, helping teams co-ordinate.  

Great places that are easy to access don't happen by chance. We worked with government, private organisations and local communities to design vibrant community-centric places. This means consulting with a wide range of groups to make sure the system serves a diverse population and their differing needs.

The city section of the M1 Metro North West & Bankstown Line opened in August 2024, taking commuters from Sydney’s north west to the critical Central Business District (CBD). It’s the latest success in a development that’s connecting the city in new ways, creating possibilities and improving lives.

The turn-up-and-go service manages passenger load efficiently by increasing train numbers 60 per cent during peak periods, catering for an extra 100,000 commuters per hour. Transitioning the movement of people to travel underground has meant that the customer experience from a design perspective is everything. People can experience more streamlined and accessible pathways through their commute, and new meeting places and landmarks are unlocked for the community in and around the stations.

“We've got anecdotal evidence of people taking 20 to 30 minutes off their commute. That's a huge difference. That means that they can spend time with their family. They can do stuff after work. They can do extracurricular activities that weren't available,” says Sam McWilliam, WSP Managing Director of Transport.

At Waterloo Station, artworks adorn the walls, reflecting the culture and history of the neighbourhood. The light and airy feel of the station is reflected across much of the network. With specially designed lighting and vast, underground spaces creating a calming ambience and temperate climate.  Waterloo Station has achieved a 6 Star Green Star Design and is targeting a 5 Star Green Star As-Built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. An acknowledgement which applies across all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services.