Sydney’s New Metro Is About To Get A Walking And Cycling Sidekick

There's no denying Sydney's latest celebrity corridor, a 6km walking and cycling route dubbed the GreenWay, was a bit of a moment for those living in the Inner West.

The route more or less follows the Inner West light rail line, linking the Cooks River at Earlwood with the Parramatta River at Iron Cove and the Bay Run. A big win for our very pedal-pushing city.

Now, there's another major piece of infrastructure set to reshape how southwest Sydney gets around—and this one is designed to run alongside the brand-new Southwest Metro.

Say hello to the MetroWay. The proposed 13.8-kilometre shared walking and cycling path will link Sydenham to Bankstown, giving locals a new way to move through the Inner West and southwest Sydney by bike or on foot.

Jump to: 

• When Will Sydney’s Southwest Metro Open?
• What Is The MetroWay And Where Will It Go?
• When Will Sydney’s MetroWay Walking And Cycling Path Open?

When Will Sydney’s Southwest Metro Open?

The Southwest Metro officially opens on Friday 30 October 2026, bringing the former T3 Bankstown Line into Sydney's Metro network and connecting Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville with the CBD and northwest Sydney.

The new Metro will run every four minutes during weekday peak hours, every five minutes during the day and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on weekends.

There are some seriously speedy new journey times, too. Bankstown to Central will take 28 minutes, while Marrickville to Gadigal will take just 12 minutes. Campsie to Macquarie University will take 44 minutes, Lakemba to Victoria Cross 37 minutes and Canterbury to Chatswood 31 minutes.

The new line will also deliver 50 per cent more passenger capacity than the old T3 Bankstown Line, alongside upgraded stations, platform screen doors, new lifts and improved accessibility.

What Is The MetroWay And Where Will It Go?

While the Metro is about to make getting around the region considerably quicker, the MetroWay is designed to give locals another option altogether: walking and cycling the same corridor without needing to jump on a train or into a car.

Running alongside the Southwest Metro, the proposed shared path will link Sydenham and Bankstown, passing through some of the Inner West and southwest's most familiar neighbourhoods along the way.

At Dulwich Hill, the MetroWay will connect with the existing 6km GreenWay, creating a broader active-transport network that links the Cooks River with Iron Cove and the Bay Run.

That means the route will eventually connect leafy riverside stretches with some of the city's busiest suburban precincts, from the hospo-heavy streets of Marrickville through to Campsie and Bankstown.

For locals, it could make getting around the area a whole lot more flexible. You could take the Metro when you're in a hurry, cycle when the weather is on your side, or simply walk a stretch of the route on a Sunday morning.

The path is also being designed with accessibility in mind, with a route intended to cater to families, casual riders, daily commuters and more serious cyclists. Lighting and landscaping are planned to make the journey safer and more inviting, too.

When Will Sydney’s MetroWay Walking And Cycling Path Open?

There's one small catch: the MetroWay isn't ready just yet.

The contract has gone to tender, with Sydney Metro working with local councils on the design, delivery, naming and ongoing management of the project.

So while the Southwest Metro is officially ready to welcome passengers from Friday 30 October, you'll have to wait a little longer before you can follow its corridor on two wheels.

Still, the prospect is pretty exciting. Sydney is about to get a new Metro connecting southwest suburbs to the CBD and northwest, and eventually, a dedicated walking and cycling route will trace much of the same journey above ground.

We'll keep you posted as more details about the MetroWay, including its final design and delivery timeline, come through.

Image credit: NSW Government