Sydney’s $15 Billion New Train Line: Modern, Fast, and a TikTok Sensation
The new Sydney Metro line, with its modern design and driverless trains, has become a viral hit on TikTok and Instagram since its launch.
Australia’s largest public transport project has gained an unexpected level of social media fame.
The A$21.6 billion ($15 billion) Sydney Metro line, which runs along a major north-southwest corridor, has become a social media sensation since its opening in late August. It has been prominently featured in numerous TikTok and Instagram posts.
One TikTok video, showcasing young people dancing and celebrating with Sydney Metro signs on a train station platform, has amassed over 600,000 views.
The buzz around the new line can be attributed to its modern features—driverless trains and bright, spacious stations—which stand in stark contrast to Sydney’s older, more crowded network.
Central to the new line is Sydney Central Station, which underwent a A$955 million renovation. The overhaul aims to bring the 118-year-old station up to the standards of iconic transit hubs like London’s Kings Cross and New York’s Grand Central.
John Prentice, a principal at the architecture and design firm Woods Bagot, which designed Sydney Central, stated, “It’s something Sydney hasn’t really experienced before and was much needed. We aimed to create a station that could stand alongside the world’s great transit hubs while reflecting Sydney’s unique qualities.”
At Gadigal, a new station located near the historic Town Hall, commuters descend to the platform via escalators flanked by six massive columns, each weighing 168 tonnes. The station features large murals depicting train tunnels, inspired both by Sydney’s early railway tunnels and Wile E. Coyote’s cartoon depictions, according to artist Callum Morton.
Morton commented, “You can always tell when something makes an impact. The beauty is in the surface details, and the feeling it evokes is what truly captivates.”