Digital Systems Program

The Digital Systems Program consists of:

• Replacing traditional trackside signalling equipment with the latest ‘in cab’ train control technology (European Train Control System Level 2)
• Introducing a Traffic Management System (TMS) to help the railway recover from any disruption quicker and manage the overall network as effectively as possible.

Digital Systems will help achieve the vision of Future Transport Strategy, enabling an increase in capacity across the railway network to meet future demand.

Scope, status and key milestones

The Digital Systems Program is included in the Rail Service Improvement Program funding envelope, which is focused on delivering more frequent services, reduced wait times, and simpler timetables. 

The 2025-26 NSW Budget allocated $1.5 billion over four years to 2028-29 to the Rail Service Improvement Program.

Tranche 1 of Digital Systems will be delivered in the first deployment areas (Sutherland to Cronulla and Erskineville to Bondi Junction) from the mid-2020s.

Tranche 2 will be delivered in the North Shore, City Circle and Central/Redfern areas progressively from the late 2020s. A contract has been awarded to Siemens Mobility for supply, design, and testing of ETCS Level 2 for the first part of Tranche 2 (2A), which covers the North Shore areas.

The new system changes the way train drivers receive signalling information, so instead of relying on fixed coloured light signals outside the train, the driver responds to digital information received within the train cab.

A Traffic Management System will work alongside other existing systems used by Sydney Trains to control train operations. It continually monitors the position of all equipped trains, helping to keep services running as planned and assists with responses to incidents.

As part of Digital Systems, new control centre rooms in Sydenham and Homebush have been constructed. The control centres support new sub-systems and centralise the management of real time information on the Sydney Trains network, with operators monitoring train movements from the Rail Operating Centre (ROC) and responding to incidents as required.

System Integration Testing  is underway on the T4 Illawarra & Eastern Suburbs Line between Sutherland and Cronulla, with Erskineville to Bondi Junction planned to start testing from late 2025. Transport is comprehensively completing thousands of hours of testing and validating the system to enable its entry into service.

 Project documents