Two wins for Sydney Metro at national infrastructure awards

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Two Plenary projects have been awarded the industry’s highest honours at the 2023 National Infrastructure Awards, with Sydney Metro’s Western Sydney Airport SSTOM project recognised for Financial Excellence and Metro North West recognised for Operator & Service Provider Excellence.

The annual awards, hosted by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, celebrate outstanding achievements in the delivery of significant infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand.

The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport SSTOM project comprises the delivery of six new metro stations between St Marys and the new Aerotropolis, 12 new metro trains, core rail systems and a stabling and maintenance facility at Orchard Hills. The city-shaping project will provide a major economic stimulus for western Sydney, supporting more than 14,000 jobs during construction for the NSW and national economies.

The judging panel recognised the success of the project’s new private financing combined with government funding for the largest public-private partnership ever awarded in New South Wales.

The project successfully reached financial close within budget, in an unprecedented short timeframe and under challenging market conditions. The transaction included multiple funding sources for a complex and significant design and construction infrastructure project and operations and maintenance of the metro line for 15 years.

Metro North West is Australia’s first fully-automated railway and biggest public transport project. Plenary was principal commercial and financial adviser, sponsor and investor for the NRT consortium that in 2019 delivered the $3.7 billion operations, trains and systems public-private partnership.

The North West line opened to passengers in May 2019 and included many Australian firsts – Australia’s first metro railway, first driverless trains, first fully-accessible railway, and the first use of platform screen doors.

Judges recognised that since operations commenced, more than 12 million customers have used the ‘turn-up-and-go’ system and has achieved high customer satisfaction levels.