Sydney Metro Metropolis Stock

Class of train used on Sydney Metro, Australia

Sydney Metro Metropolis Stock

A Metropolis Stock at Chatswood station

Interior

Stock type| Metro (EMU)
In service| 2019–present
Manufacturer| Alstom
Designer| Xavier Allard[1]
Built at| Sri City, India
Family name| Metropolis
Constructed|

* 2016–2018 (first batch)[2]
* 2019–2024 (second batch)

Entered service| 26 May 2019 (2019-05-26)
Number built| 45 sets[3]
Number in service| 45 sets[3]
Formation| 6 car sets
TC–MPC–MC–MC–MPC–TC[4]
Fleet numbers| 01 – 22 (first batch)
23 – 45 (second batch)
Operators| Metro Trains Sydney
Depots|

* Rouse Hill
* Marrickville

Lines served|  North West & Bankstown
Specifications
Car body construction| Stainless steel
Train length| 121.5 m (398 ft 7+15⁄32 in)
Car length| 20.25 m (66 ft 5+1⁄4 in)
Width| 3,035 mm (9 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Height| ~3.7 m (12 ft 1+11⁄16 in)
Doors| 3 per side
Wheel diameter| 840–770 mm (33–30 in) (new–worn)[5]
Wheelbase| 2,300 mm (91 in)[5]
Maximum speed|

* 120 km/h (75 mph) (design)
* 100 km/h (62 mph) (service)

Weight| 240 t (240 long tons; 260 short tons)[6]
Traction system| Alstom OPTONIX 2-level IGBT–VVVF[4]
Traction motors| 16 × Alstom 4-ECA-2120 200 kW (270 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor[4][7]
Power output| 3.2 MW (4,300 hp)
Acceleration| 1.2 m/s² (3.9 ft/s²)
Deceleration| 1.1 m/s² (3.6ft/s²) (service) 1.4 m/s² (4.6ft/s²) (emergency)
Electric system(s)| 1,500 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)| Pantograph
UIC classification| 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Bogies| B 23[5]
Braking system(s)| Electro-pneumatic
Safety system(s)| Alstom Urbalis 400 moving block CBTC with subsystems of ATC, ATO under GoA 4 (UTO), ATP, Iconis ATS and Smartlock CBI[4]
Coupling system| Dellner
Seating| Longitudinal
Track gauge| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Sydney Metro Metropolis Stock is a class of electric multiple units that operate on the Sydney Metro network. Built by Alstom as part of their Metropolis family, the trains are the first fully automated passenger rolling stock in Australia as well as the first single-deck electric trainsets to operate in Sydney since their withdrawal from the suburban rail network in the 1990s.

They first entered service in May 2019 with the opening of the Metro North West Line, with additional trainsets ordered for the City & Southwest extension, which partially opened in 2024, with the remaining Sydenham to Bankstown section expected to open in 2026. A total of 270 carriages, making up 45 6-car sets have been built.

## History

[edit]

### Procurement

[edit]

In June 2012, the North West Rail Link project (later Sydney Metro North West) announced that it would use single deck "metro" style trains, rather than the double deck trains more commonly used in Sydney.[8][9] In May 2013, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced that two consortia had been shortlisted for the Operations and Train Systems (OTS) contract. The winning consortium would build the trains, install signalling and other electronic systems, as well as operate the line as a public–private partnership.[10]

* Northwest Rapid Transit (a consortium of John Holland, Leighton Contractors, MTR Corporation, Plenary Group and UGL Rail)
* TransForm (a consortium of Bombardier Transportation, John Laing Investments, Macquarie Capital, McConnell Dowell, Serco and SNC-Lavalin Capital)

In June 2014, Northwest Rapid Transit was selected by Transport for NSW for the OTS contract.[11][12][13] The $3.7 billion contract was formally awarded by the New South Wales Government in September 2014.[14]

Northwest Rapid Transit subsequently contracted Alstom to build 22 6-car automated Metropolis trainsets for the line, as well as install a communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling system at a cost of $1.7 billion.[15][16]

### Design and construction

[edit]

In November 2015, the design of the train was unveiled by Minister for Transport Andrew Constance,[17] with the full-scale model of the train later displayed at public events such as the 2016 Sydney Royal Easter Show.[18][19] It consisted of the front carriage, and was approximately 75% of the length of the final design, having two doors instead of three.[20]

The trains were manufactured at Alstom's rolling stock facility at Sri City in India,[21][22] with the first train arriving in New South Wales in September 2017.[23][24] In February 2018, dynamic testing on the first of the trainsets began.[25] Testing was done on brakes, passenger information displays, lighting and door operation.[26] In July 2018, Alstom was awarded a 15 year maintenance contract for the trains and the signalling system.[27] In December 2018, production of the 22 trainsets was completed.[28] On 14 January 2019, the first driverless Metro train completed the full journey between Tallawong and Chatswood.[29]

### Introduction into service

[edit]

On 26 May 2019, the trains entered service on the Metro North West Line,[30] operated by Metro Trains Sydney, a joint venture between the MTR Corporation, John Holland and UGL Rail.[13]

In November 2019, the Northwest Rapid Transit public–private partnership was extended to cover the City & Southwest extension. As part of this contract expansion, Alstom would deliver an additional 23 6-car trainsets as well as signalling to serve the extension at a cost of €350 million ($563 million).[31][32] The contract includes options for additional trains and extension of existing trains to 8 cars in length in future.[31][32] By November 2022, four of these additional trainsets had entered service on the Metro North West Line, ahead of the opening of the City & Southwest extension.[33] In March 2024, it was announced that all 45 trains had been tested over the full length of the line.[34] The Chatswood to Sydenham portion of the City & Southwest project extension opened in August 2024, with the remaining Sydenham to Bankstown portion of the line expected to open in 2026.[35]

The under construction Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line will not use the Metropolis sets, with Sydney Metro Inspiro Stock ordered from Siemens.[36][37] As of April 2024[update], the rolling stock contract for Sydney Metro West has not been awarded.[36][38]

### Incidents

[edit]

On 2 April 2025, Metropolis set 25 was recorded departing Chatswood with one set of doors open. Although immediately identified by staff, the doors remained open from departure at Chatswood until the train arrived at Crows Nest, where the doors were manually closed and the train was subsequently taken out of service.[39]

## Design

[edit]

Driving end of the train Original digital displays before commencement of the City and Southwest Line

Each single-deck train features two dedicated areas for prams, luggage and bicycles. There are three doorways per side per carriage and no internal gangway doors between the carriages.[40] In a 6-car configuration the trains have a seating capacity of 378 people, with a total capacity of 1,100.[41] The trains utilise Alstom's Urbalis 400 communications-based train control signalling system that ensures trains are capable of driving and operating automatically at all times without a driver or attendant on board, including door closing, obstacle detection and dealing with emergency situations.[42][43]

The trains feature longitudinal 'bench-style' seating per carriage (similar to most metro rapid-transit/subway trains), with distinctly coloured seats for priority and disabled passengers.[44] Seats in wheelchair spaces can fold up in order to fit prams and wheelchairs. A doorway-status light is installed above each doorway, which illuminates white when the doors are fully closed, green when the doors are fully open, and flashes in red when the doors are opening or closing.

Features of the Metropolis sets include CCTV cameras, internal passenger information display (PID) screens and digital voice announcements.[45] The PID screens display the name of the next station, along with icons for available transport mode interchanges. The sets are also fitted with air conditioning and emergency help points.[45] There are also USB charging ports at the end of cars 01 and 02.[46][47]

The Metropolis sets are operated via a control centre based at Rouse Hill. In the event the system is otherwise unable to operate the train, an engineer can manually take over the train's functions. The trains are maintained at the Sydney Metro Trains Facility at Rouse Hill,[48] with overnight stabling of trains at Sydney Metro Trains Facility South in Marrickville following the opening of the City & Southwest extension.[49]

Since early 2024, some sets have received an updated livery with the addition of a teal stripe along the entire length of the set just underneath the side windows.

### Service formation

[edit]

The 270 Alstom Metropolis carriages form 45 six-car sets. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows:[citation needed]

| ←Tallawong | Sydenham→

|
|

45  | 0101

4501  | 0103

4503  | 0105

4505  | 0106

4506  | 0104

4504  | 0102

4502

* Cars 01 & 02 are control trailer cars.
* Cars 03 & 04 are non-control motor cars with pantographs.
* Cars 05 & 06 are non-control motor cars.

Car 01 always faces the Tallawong end, while car 02 always faces the Sydenham end.

In the event that extensions to 8 cars happens if sufficient demand warrants the contract, two infill carriages will be added between cars 05 and 06.

## See also

[edit]

* Sydney Metro Inspiro Stock \- similar automated trains to be used on the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Meet our chief train designer". Sydney Metro. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
2. ^ Upadhyay, Ankita; Collet, Coralie; Miller, Samuel (6 December 2018). "Alstom successfully delivers last train for Sydney Metro". Alstom. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
3. ^ a b May, Tiana (3 November 2022). "Sydney Metro's New Driverless Trains Start Passenger Services". Railway News. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
4. ^ a b c d Jehan, David; Honan, Andrew (January 2016). Sydney Metro – Australia's first fully-automated rolling stock (PDF). Melbourne: Railway Technical Society of Australasia. ISBN 9781922107800. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
5. ^ a b c "Alstom Bogies Catalogue 2015 – English" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
6. ^ Douglas, Neil; Thornton, Peter (2019). "Passenger Benefits of Sydney Metro". Australasian Transport Research Forum. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
7. ^ "Alstom Motors Catalogue 2015 – English" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
8. ^ "North West Rail Link Project Overview June 2012" (PDF). Sydney Metro. June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2024. "the North West Rail Link has been identified for the first new single deck services which will be introduced across key parts of the network in the next decade and beyond"
9. ^ Saulwick, Jacob; O'Sullivan, Matt (26 May 2019). "It's been promised at every election for generations, but now it's a reality". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2024. "in June 2012, O'Farrell and Berejiklian announced a break with that pre-election promise. Releasing a 50-year transport "masterplan", they said the line would be built as a stand-alone metro."
10. ^ Saulwick, Jacob (1 May 2013). "Detention company could run new rail link". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
11. ^ "Sydney automated metro operator selected". Metro Report International. 24 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
12. ^ "Sydney's new train unveiled as $3.7 billion North West Rail Link operations contract signed". 16 September 2014.
13. ^ a b "Sydney Metro Northwest | Transport | UGL Case Study". UGL. 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
14. ^ "NRT awarded operations contract to deliver Australia's largest public transport project". Plenary Group. 16 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
15. ^ "Alstom to deliver Australias first fully-automated rapid transit trains". Alstom. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
16. ^ "Contract finalised for $3.7bn Sydney Metro extension". www.theconstructionindex.co.uk. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024. "The consortium's AU$3.7bn (£1.95bn) contract package includes AU$1.7bn for new metro trains and core rail systems"
17. ^ "Alstom unveils railcar design for Sydney Metro". www.metro-magazine.com. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
18. ^ "Check out the Sydney Metro train". Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
19. ^ "Transport for NSW Sydney Metro Marquee at the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2016 - Proj-X Design". www.proj-x.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
20. ^ "First glimpse of new Metro train | Sydney Metro". www.sydneymetro.info. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
21. ^ "Sydney Metro Receives First Indian Built Alstom Train". The Metro Rail Guy. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
22. ^ "First metro trains arrive for new $8.3 billion line to Sydney's north west". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
23. ^ "First Sydney Metro train arrives". NSW Government. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
24. ^ "Alstom delivers first fully automated metro trains to Sydney, Australia". Alstom. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
25. ^ UK, DVV Media. "Sydney metro train on test". Metro Report. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
26. ^ "First Metro Train Testing | Sydney Metro". www.sydneymetro.info. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
27. ^ "Alstom awarded long term rolling stock and signalling maintenance contract for Sydney Metro". Alstom. 11 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
28. ^ "Alstom successfully delivers last train for Sydney Metro". Alstom. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
29. ^ "Major Milestone As Metro Northwest Completes Its First Full Test". Transport for NSW. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
30. ^ "Sydney's driverless Metro train line opens, but the doors don't". ABC News. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
31. ^ a b "Operations and fleet contract awarded for Sydney Metro extension". International Railway Journal. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
32. ^ a b "Alstom to supply driverless trains and digital signalling system for Sydney Metro extension to City and Southwest". Alstom. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2024. "Under the contract, valued at approx. €350 million, Alstom will be responsible for the project management, design, supply, manufacturing, testing and commissioning of 23 six-car fully-automated Metropolis trains and the Urbalis 400 Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system."
33. ^ Artymiuk, Simon (7 November 2022). "First driverless trains for Sydney City and Southwest Line enter service". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
34. ^ "All 45 Metro trains tested in new tunnels under the Sydney CBD". Transport for NSW. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
35. ^ Gerathy, Sarah (19 August 2024). "The Sydney Metro City line is finally open. Here's what you need to know". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
36. ^ a b O'Sullivan, Matt (28 May 2023). "Why Sydney will end up with three incompatible metro train lines". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
37. ^ Artymiuk, Simon (12 January 2023). "Siemens to supply driverless trains for Sydney Metro Western Airport line". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
38. ^ Chan, Ray (18 December 2023). "Contract shortlists for Sydney Metro West". Rail Express. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
39. ^ O'Sullivan, Matt (2 April 2025). "Metro passengers left hanging on as door stays open on driverless train". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
40. ^ "Case study: North West Rail Link, Sydney, Australia". Alstom. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
41. ^ O'Rourke, Jim (5 November 2015). "Sydney Metro Northwest: Transport minister unveils life-size model of Metropolis carriage". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
42. ^ Douglas, Neil; Thornton, Peter (2019). "Passenger Benefits of Sydney Metro". Australasian Transport Research Forum 2019 Proceedings. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
43. ^ Johri, Pankaj; McGann, Timothy; Venn-Brown, David; Zou, Ren (2018). "Introducing Sydney's fully automated rolling stock". Conference on Railway Excellence 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
44. ^ "Alstom's first 'Make in India' Metro inaugurated in Kochi". raillynews.com. 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
45. ^ a b Acharya, Mosiqi (30 May 2019). "Australia's first fully-automated, driver-less trains are made in India". SBS Language. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
46. ^ "Alstom Metropolis Trains". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
47. ^ "Sydney Metro Trains Features & Design | Sydney Metro". www.sydneymetro.info. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
48. ^ "Trains Facility expansion | Sydney Metro". www.sydneymetro.info. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
49. ^ "Marrickville Dive Site and Trains Facility South | Sydney Metro". www.sydneymetro.info. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

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