Ricardo appointed to ‘Shadow Operator’ role for new Sydney Metro lines

Sydney Metro’s West and Western Sydney Airport projects will significantly enhance the public transport infrastructure of Australia’s biggest city.

Ricardo has been appointed to fulfil the ‘Shadow Operator’ role on two major extensions to Sydney’s new driverless metro system.

Sydney Metro West will be a new 25km underground line from Greater Parramatta to the city's central business area. Meanwhile, the Western Sydney Airport link will connect the terminal of the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport – currently in development – to St Marys station on the existing T1 Western line. Along its 23km route there will be six metro stations.
 
As Shadow Operator, Ricardo’s experts will provide advice and technical input from the viewpoint of the prospective operations and maintenance contractor. Once the actual operator has been chosen and is in place, our teams will support the handover process to ensure there are no delays heading into the early testing stages.
 
Ricardo will be assisted in this role by Seoul Metro, meaning experienced insight into the day-to-day operations of a fully automated railway will be available throughout the design, procurement and construction phases of both projects.
 
“We’re excited to have Ricardo, supported by Seoul Metro, come on board and share their international expertise with us,” commented Rebecca McPhee, Sydney Metro deputy chief executive – operations, customer and place making. “Their insight will give Sydney Metro the perfect combination of ‘real metro operations’ and consultancy service expertise to drive a customer focused, operable and maintainable design at the lowest whole of life cost. “
 
“We’re pleased to be fulfilling the important Shadow Operator role for these two major projects,” added Stephen Boyd, MD of Ricardo’s rail business in Australia. “Our appointment recognizes the expertise that we are able to deliver – supported by Seoul Metro – in both railway operations and consultancy, helping the project teams understand the perspectives and expectations of the eventual operation and maintenance contractor of the new rail lines they are constructing.”