‘Milestone’: Update for Sydney development
Sydney’s train network has a new station for the first time in five years, and the first one finished in the updating City and Southwest Metro project.
The Waterloo Metro is predicted to have close to 19,000 passengers each day when it opens later this year, and is the first of six new station along the City Metro line.
The new station will make it only a two minute ride to Central, Barangaroo in eight minutes and Victoria Cross in North Sydney in eleven minutes.
Prior to the station’s grand opening, approval is needed from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
Other necessary steps include a full trial run and the handover of all stations and lines to the operator.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said this project would help ease congestion at other packed stations.
“This mega station will be a game-changer for Waterloo, Redfern and Alexandria and significantly reduce traffic on our inner-city roads, while alleviating pressure at nearby Redfern and Green Square stations,” she said.
“We’re taking a huge step towards opening the next stage of Metro, which is just around the corner and will see tens of thousands of people using these new stations and enjoying faster connections.”
Along with the new station, the government is constructing a nine-storey building to have 70 social houses above the station as part of its Waterloo Renewable Project.
The social housing’s construction began mid 2023 and is slated to be completed in 2025. Current social housing tenants in Waterloo South will be given the chance to relocate.
There will also be student accommodation, retail outlets and commercial space set to be across four buildings as part of the Waterloo Metro Quarter development.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said this was about bringing transport and social housing together.
“This is a good example of what happens when we link the provision of housing and public transport. Everybody wins,” he said.
“More homes close to our train stations means we’ll have better connected communities. This is a great example of revitalising an inner-city community and incorporating housing and public transport.”
