Sydney Metro’s Hunter Street station in central Sydney is forecast to be the busiest on the Metro West line, anticipating more than 16,200 passenger movements between 8am and 9am in 2032.

Parramatta station is expected to be the second busiest during the same peak hour, with about 6,900 passengers, followed by Pyrmont (over 4,500) and North Strathfield (just under 4,000).

Hunter Street is the most expensive station on Sydney’s expanding metro network at about $1.5 billion, reflecting its size and CBD connectivity.

Government discussions on Metro West extensions emphasize prioritizing heavy rail throughput and show no immediate commitment to additional lines beyond the current plan.

The Metro West project is nearing the end of tunneling, with the last two boring machines close to finish and the first breakthrough at Hunter Street achieved in December.

At peak 8am–9am, several stations such as Westmead, Olympic Park, Burwood North and Five Dock are forecast to have under 4,000 passengers, while Bays at Rozelle is expected to have about 2,000.

Forecasts incorporate pandemic‑related shifts in work patterns and employment growth, indicating demand along the Metro West corridor is future‑proofed for expected growth.

Forecasts include a 15% contingency for long‑term uncertainties and consider possible east or west extensions to Metro West, with projections covering 2041–2061 and noting a Rosehill-area development that was later abandoned.

Hunter Street is planned to handle up to 40,000 passengers per hour due to design features like surface entrances and connections to Wynyard and Martin Place, making it the CBD’s most heavily used station.

The Sydney Metro chief executive argues that Hunter Street’s central CBD location will concentrate flows, making it busier than M1-line stations even if volumes were similar elsewhere.