OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2015. Thales is getting on board Sydney Metro, delivering proprietary control and communications technologies in support of the first stage of Australia’s biggest public transport project.

Key points

  • Thales is involved in  Australia’s biggest public transport project.
  • Thales will deliver the Central Control System and Communication System.
  • Thales is bringing its global expertise to Australia.
The company has been selected to provide the Central Control System  and Communication System for the first fully-automated metro rail system in Australia, which opens in the first half of 2019 with a train every four minutes in the peak. Thales will deliver both systems to the Northwest Rapid Transit consortium (NRT) as a key supplier to NRT’s Systems Joint Venture.

With an approximate value of €5.5 billion (AUD 8.3 billon), Sydney Metro Northwest is the first stage of Sydney Metro. The objective is to deliver a new standalone 36 km metro rail system for Sydney, including eight new railway stations, five existing stations upgraded and 4,000 commuter car parking spaces. The NSW Government has announced metro rail will be extended from the end of Sydney Metro Northwest, under Sydney Harbour, through new underground stations in the CBD and southwest to Bankstown.

“We’re looking forward to delivering technology that will contribute to fast, safe and reliable journeys for Sydney commuters. The Sydney Metro project will define our great city for many years to come, encouraging growth and building continued prosperity.”
Mick Spiers, Thales VP in charge of Ground Transportation in Australia


As a world leader in transport solutions, Thales is bringing to Australia expertise gained from projects in some of the world’s most high-profile cities: London, Paris, Dubai and Hong Kong. The Central Control System will ensure seamless rail operations, including real-time control mechanisms and data for various diverse systems, while providing a ‘big picture’ holistic view of the entire network. The Communication System will connect the public address, the passenger information systems, the CCTV and digital information boards, to a centralized system allowing a fully integrated approach to information management.

Thales helps urban transport operators increase capacity and offer new services that enhance the passenger experience and make public transport more attractive. Thales provides supervision to over 100 metro lines in 46 cities around the world.