The NEW CUMBERLAND LINE is a Transport for NSW Future Transport corridor from Aerotropolis (Bradfield) to Epping via Parramatta.
Will the T5 Cumberland Line be Sydney Trains or Sydney Metro?
As of December 2025, the NSW Government has not officially announced the mode of rail for the NEW CUMBERLAND LINE, however new tunnelling between Merrylands and Epping via Parramatta (bypassing the Y-Link & Harris Park) is currently subject to Sydney Metro corridor protection guidelines (according to the Department of Planning regarding a planning proposal for 1 Crescent St, Holroyd).
Sydney Metro has previously announced that the rail corridor between Bradfield and Glenfield via Leppington would be an extension of the Western Sydney Airport Metro line (from St Marys). The Sydney Metro future network expansion map published in June 2025 also indicates Bradfield to Glenfield is an indicative metro corridor.
How does the NEW CUMBERLAND LINE (as T5 Metro) impact the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line?
- T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line (City to Liverpool via Regents Park) withdrawn as trains cannot share tracks with metro (between Liverpool – Cabramatta).
- If the T5 Cumberland Line is converted into a a metro, then Liverpool to Lidcombe would be converted into a metro shuttle service (or operated as bus only as previously suggested by Transport for NSW planners).
- Lidcombe to Liverpool as metro (post New Cumberland Line) would be the same metro as the T5 Cumberland Line/Western Sydney Airport metro being 3 carriages only.
The Restore Inner West Line community action group cannot support the New Cumberland Line (as a conversion of the existing corridor into metro) and do not support any changes to the T3 Line that removes direct services with City via Inner West.
We support extending Sydney Trains from Leppington to Western Sydney Airport Terminal beyond Aerotropolis (Bradfield), extending Parramatta Light Rail from Carlingford to Epping, and digital signalling upgrades for the Sydney Trains Network to increase capacity on all lines.
Related Submissions:
Parramatta 2050
NSW Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Critical transport infrastructure supporting the Western Sydney International Airport and Western Sydney Aerotropolis (2024)