Siemens Mobility Delivers First Driverless Train for Sydney Airport Metro

The first train for the new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line has arrived in Australia. It is the first of 12 fully automated trains that will run without drivers on the 23-kilometre route linking Western Sydney with the new airport.

Siemens Mobility has delivered the first of 12 three-car trains for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project. The train will now undergo testing and commissioning, first at the Stabling and Maintenance Facility in Orchard Hills, New South Wales, and later on the main line. Once the railway opens, the fleet will operate at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4), the highest level of train automation, with services running without drivers on board.

First Sydney Airport Metro Train Moves Into Testing

According to Siemens Mobility, the new 23-kilometre metro line will connect Greater Western Sydney with Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and Bradfield City Centre. The trains are based on Siemens Mobility’s Inspiro High Capacity platform but have been adapted specifically for the new Sydney route.

"The arrival of the first train in Australia marks an important milestone for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project and for Siemens Mobility’s turnkey business globally. We can now proceed to the next project phase, which involves dynamic testing in Sydney," said Léon Soulier, CEO Turnkey Business Unit at Siemens Mobility.

"Together with our Parklife Metro partners and Sydney Metro, we are delivering a state-of-the-art, fully automated metro system while introducing Railigent X to Australia for the first time to enhance predictive maintenance and network performance."

Driverless Trains Designed for Sydney Passengers

The three-car trains have large windows, open gangways and wide doors, while level boarding and dedicated wheelchair spaces are intended to improve accessibility. Passenger information displays, CCTV and emergency intercoms are also built into the fleet.

Before arriving in Australia, the trains underwent commissioning and testing in Vienna and at Siemens Mobility’s Test and Validation Centre in Wildenrath, Germany. Testing included trials in a climate chamber to check how the vehicles perform in different weather and wind conditions.

Interior Design Draws on the Cumberland Plain

The train interiors honour the landscape and cultural heritage of the Cumberland Plain through which the new line will run. The upholstery was developed with references to First Nations traditions and incorporates themes of Ngurra, meaning Country, and Badu, meaning Water.

Grey and blue patterns on standard seats are inspired by the night sky, while yellow priority seating represents daytime gathering places around waterholes and flowering wattle.

Railigent X Comes to Australia for the First Time

The project will introduce Siemens Mobility’s Railigent X platform in Australia. The system uses fleet and infrastructure data to support predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics and early identification of technical problems.

Siemens says the technology should help increase train availability and reduce the risk of unexpected failures during operation. The company will provide maintenance for the system under a 15-year full-service contract.