First TBMs begin digging twin tunnels for Sydney Metro West project

The Sydney Metro West development has reached a historic moment in its delivery stage as the first two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) begin digging a section of the new metro line. 

TBM Daphne is already 150 metres into its 11-kilometre journey from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park, while TBM Beatrice is 45 metres into its own journey on the parallel tunnel. 

“As is tunnelling tradition across the world, the Sydney Metro West TBMs are named after women to bring luck to the workers who look to Saint Barbara for protection. 

“TBM Daphne has been named in honour of pioneer for Paralympic sport Daphne Hilton. Daphne Hilton was one of the most successful Australian athletes of all time and a trailblazer for women in sports. Daphne competed in three Paralympic Games between 1960 and 1968 and set a record that is unlikely to ever be broken – winning 14 medals across five different sports including athletics, swimming, archery, table tennis and fencing. 

“TBM Beatrice’s namesake is iconic local newspaper seller Beatrice Bush who sold newspapers for over 25 years from the traffic island at the intersection of Victoria Road and The Crescent in White Bay. It is estimated she sold five million papers between 1971 to 1996, passing away six days after she sold her last paper. Her life inspired songwriters, filmmakers, sculptors and painters,” Sydney Metro said in a statement. 

TBM Beatrice (source: Sydney Metro)

While excavations are carried out, construction of the tunnels will also be undertaken. This includes the construction of cross passages and crossover caverns. 

The twin tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park are being delivered as part of the Central Tunnelling Package that was awarded in July 2021 to the Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture. 

Sydney Metro West will deliver a new 24-kilometre rail line as well as nine new stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD. Construction on this massive project commenced in 2020. 

The project will feature: 

• Faster, more frequent access to major employment and education centres like Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park 
• A new metro station in the heart of the Sydney CBD commercial centre, connecting directly to Sydney’s established and growing employment precincts 
• A new metro station at Westmead – one of Australia’s largest health and education precincts 
• Delivering new rail services for the first time at Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays and Pyrmont 
• A new metro station at Sydney Olympic Park – Sydney’s sporting and entertainment super-precinct 
• A new metro station at Pyrmont – delivering major benefits to the Pyrmont community and supports plans to transform this harbourside suburb 
• Integrated with the rest of Sydney’s public transport system 
• Fully accessible with lifts and level access between trains and platforms 
• Next generation fully air-conditioned metro trains 
• All Sydney Metro infrastructure like the stations, trains and railway tracks are owned by the NSW Government 
• Sydney Metro uses Opal ticketing and fares are set by the NSW Government 

TBM Daphne (source: Sydney Metro)

Earlier this year, the State Government granted planning approval to the delivery of all nine new stations for Sydney Metro West. You can read more about the approval here. 

Sydney Metro West is estimated to create up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs during its construction phase. 

Once up and running, the new metro line will double the rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD while, at the same time, linking new communities to rail services and supporting employment growth and housing supply. 

Source: Sydney Metro (1, 2); Infrastructure Magazine; Roads & Infrastructure Australia