Sydney Metro City and Southwest

MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (MTR)

Project Objectives

Sydney Metro is Australia’s first fully automated (driverless) railway and the nation’s biggest public transport project. Sydney Metro City & Southwest (SMC&SW) is a $21.6billion project to integrate the existing Metro North West Line (which opened in 2019) with an extension running from Chatswood through to Bankstown, to form the M1 Metro Northwest & Bankstown Line. 

Phase One of the project, the new 15.5km line in the City Section, which runs from Chatswood, through the CBD and onto Sydenham, opened to great fanfare on 19 August 2024. Encompassing twin tunnels located almost entirely underground – including beneath Sydney Harbour – it is, beyond question, an impressive feat of engineering, delivering transformative infrastructure, through a densely populated urban corridor, for the city of Sydney. 

As the Integrator, MTR proudly partnered with Sydney Metro to deliver: 23 new trains to the existing fleet, CBTC Signalling, Central Control, communications, radio, and PSD systems for the project, as well as the overall system integration and expansion of the Operations Control Centre. MTR is also the majority shareholder of Metro Trains Sydney (MTS), which now extends its Operations and Maintenance regime to include the entire M1 Line, from Tallawong to Sydenham.  

Attention now turns to Phase Two of the project, transforming the southwest section of the M1 Line, between Sydenham and Bankstown. Major planning and works are already underway to convert the T3 Bankstown Line to metro standards. All ten existing stations will be upgraded and fitted with lifts and platform screen doors, providing enhanced passenger accessibility and security.   On completion, when the southwest section is integrated with the city and northwest, the M1 Metro Northwest & Bankstown Line will be a network of 31 metro stations and a 66km dedicated metro railway system.  

Our Role

Spectrum Comms has been retained by MTR to fulfill two key roles on the SMC&SW project:

  • Stakeholder and Community Liaison Manager 
  • Public Affairs and Events Manager 

    The Stakeholder and Community Liaison Manager developed the Community Communications Strategy (CCS) to define the stakeholder and community engagement framework. The CCS ensures the community and stakeholders receive timely and relevant information about project activities, including: community and stakeholder liaison policies and procedures, community and stakeholder consultation, handling complaints and enquiries, managing media and government briefings and enquiries, and crisis communication management. They developed innovative programs, processes, and methodologies to engage with and provide support to local communities, including schools, seniors, environmental groups, sporting groups, young people, businesses and other community groups – with information available in 13 languages. 

    The Public Affairs and Events Manager has delivered key communication services to the SMC&SW project on behalf of MTR. They work closely with the Transport for NSW communications and public affairs teams to facilitate a wide range of media events for the Minister for Transport. The role includes coordinating event management and production of all media materials, in consultation with multiple contractors who delivered the Testing & Commissioning program for Sydney Metro City Section. They have also provided strategic communication support to MTR senior management and have delivered a range of key events and community initiatives required under the Integrator’s contract with Sydney Metro. 

    Outcomes

    Throughout Phase One, both roles have been delivered to standards meeting, and often exceeding, all expectations of both MTR and Sydney Metro/Transport for NSW. Spectrum Comms has now been retained to deliver both roles for Phase Two of the project, which extends the M1 Line from Sydenham through to Bankstown.