Send a letter to Transport Minister John Graham supporting the extension of the South West Rail Link from Leppington to Western Sydney Airport Terminal: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/extend-sydney-trains-network-to-western-sydney-airport-terminal-station/
EcoTransit Sydney is urging the NSW Government to act on growing public demand and expert evidence by committing to direct Sydney Trains access to the Western Sydney International Airport terminal through an extension of the South West Rail Link from Leppington.
We are disappointed with the NSW Government’s response to the Inquiry into Critical Transport Infrastructure Supporting the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis as it fails to address the biggest planning shortcoming for Sydney Trains at Western Sydney Airport.
Bradfield (Aerotropolis) is separate from Western Sydney Airport Terminal, and the current construction of Sydney Metro obstructs the ability of Sydney Trains to reach the airport terminal.
In its detailed submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry, EcoTransit outlined a cost-effective and high-capacity alternative to the government’s Sydney Metro plans. The submission emphasises that services to Bradfield from Glenfield would not serve the actual airport terminal, instead stopping short at the Bradfield Station (Aerotropolis), forcing air travellers to interchange.
“The current Metro plan risks locking out Sydney Trains from the airport terminal. That’s a massive planning failure for South West Sydney residents and for the long-term transport future of Western Sydney,” said Roydon Ng, secretary of EcoTransit.
Key points from EcoTransit Sydney’s submission include:
- Extending the South West Rail Link (SWRL) from Leppington to Western Sydney Airport via Rossmore and Bringelly as the most direct, scalable and cost-efficient option.
- The extension would allow direct Sydney Trains services to the airport terminal from Liverpool, Parramatta, Sydney Airport, and the Sydney CBD via the existing T2, T5, and T8 lines.
- Building the airport and Aerotropolis stations to support four rail tracks—two for Sydney Metro and two for Sydney Trains—would ensure increased operational flexibility and potential interoperability with tram-trains if needed.
- The current Sydney Trains fleet (Waratah, Oscar, Millennium) can accommodate bulky luggage and high-capacity peak-hour services, unlike Metro’s single-deck, shorter trains.
- The Western Sydney Airport Metro’s design capacity is a 3 carriage service much smaller than existing metro or Sydney Trains.
EcoTransit reaffirms our calls for the “Dharawal Line”, a proposed heavy rail corridor from Schofields to Campbelltown via Western Sydney Airport, supporting both passenger and freight services and enabling a true Western Sydney Freight Bypass. This would relieve pressure on the existing network and connect directly with the Maldon–Dombarton rail corridor and Port Kembla.
Public surveys referenced in the submission show that residents near Leppington and Edmondson Park want Sydney Trains, not Metro, to service the airport directly. The Fix Liverpool Transport campaign, part of the submission, engaged with over 1,200 households in South West Sydney who overwhelmingly support direct train access to the airport and reject multiple interchanges via Glenfield and Aerotropolis.
“We’re simply asking the government to follow through on the South West Rail Link’s original intent. With just 10km of new track, we can unlock direct, high-capacity rail for millions in Western Sydney,” Ng added.
EcoTransit has also called for:
- Full publication of the Sydney Metro WSA business case, including comparative analysis with a Sydney Trains option.
- Protection of the entire Leppington to WSA corridor for the Sydney Trains Network.
- A broader review of the NSW Future Transport Strategy to prioritise upgrades to the existing Sydney Trains Network with digital signalling (e.g. European Train Control System Level 2).
- Upgrading of T80 Parramatta to Liverpool bus services and the proposed Liverpool to Western Sydney Airport (Fifteenth Avenue Smart Transit) corridor into new Light Rail
About EcoTransit Sydney
EcoTransit Sydney is a volunteer-based public transport advocacy group working to promote sustainable and equitable transport solutions across NSW. The group has participated in multiple parliamentary inquiries and is known for proposing innovative, community-focused transport alternatives.