New milestones reached as construction progresses on Sydney Metro West

Two new major milestones have been reached as construction continues to progress on the Sydney Metro West project in New South Wales. 

Two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have arrived at the Burwood North Metro Station site, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of the 24-kilometre twin tunnels that will connect Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. 

To date, the TBMs have each built 6.26 kilometres of tunnel, excavating a total of 1.2 million tonnes of dirt – about 196 Olympic swimming pools worth – and installing around 44,100 tunnelling segments to line the new tunnel walls. 

“This marks a major milestone in delivering this crucial new Metro line that will make it easier for people across Western Sydney to travel around our city, while addressing the housing crisis that has gripped NSW. 

“NSW is losing twice as many young people as we’re gaining, and it’s projects like this that create new homes for them that will play a critical role in making housing more affordable in NSW. 

“Thank you to the thousands of people that are working to build this mammoth project, the largest public transport project in Australia,” Premier Chris Minns said. 

Both TBMs are more than halfway through the 11-kilometre journey to build a section of the twin tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park, via future station sites at Five Dock, Burwood North and North Strathfield. 

The TBMs are expected to take just over two weeks to traverse to the western end of the cavern where they will be relaunched to continue tunnelling 1.8 kilometres to the next stop at the North Strathfield Station site. 

TBMs Beatrice and Daphne are due to complete their journeys to Sydney Olympic Park in the second half of the year. 

“Australia’s biggest public transport project is making fast progress. Daphne and Beatrice can almost see the finish line, they’re just under 5 kilometres away from their final destination, Sydney Olympic Park. 

“These breakthroughs mean we are a step closer to delivering this once-in-a-century infrastructure investment in our city that will be a catalyst for housing growth across Sydney. 

“When Burwood North Metro Station opens, it will be an exciting, state-of-the-art transport destination that will change the way people move in what is currently a very bus-dependent corner of our city, and it will take pressure off the existing T1 Western line,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has granted planning approval to the development of a world-class precinct at Hunter Street. 

The proposed precinct development includes a 58-storey building above Hunter Street Station East, between O’Connell Street and Bligh Street, and a 51-storey building above Hunter Street Station West, on the corner of George Street and Hunter Street. 

These new buildings are expected to support additional jobs and economic growth through new commercial and retail land uses in Central Sydney. 

The two commercial and retail buildings are also going to be linked directly by Sydney Metro West to thousands of new additional homes to be delivered by the State Government. 

“This is an exciting milestone for the Sydney Metro West project, we’ve been given the green light to continue developing the detailed designs for this brand new station precinct. 

“The successful tenderer will deliver a brand new station beneath Hunter Street and two new buildings above. 

“The 24-kilometre Metro West line will not only unlock housing supply across our city, but developments like this one at Hunter Street will be incredible new employment centres,” Minister Haylen said. 

Construction on Hunter Street Station commenced in 2023 and is well underway with major excavation of the station cavern ongoing. 

Once Sydney Metro West is operational, passengers will also be able to use an underground walkway to connect to metro services on the Metro North West Line as well as the City & Southwest line at Martin Place. However, connections to light rail and train services can be accessed nearby at Wynyard Station. 

Sydney Metro is utilising a first-of-its-kind procurement model for this project to help drive improved placemaking outcomes to the area. The planning process for the Hunter Street over station development is running simultaneously with the procurement of a development partner to deliver the project. 

Two consortia have been shortlisted to work with Sydney Metro to develop the vision for Hunter Street Station, transforming it into a world-class precinct at the heart of a vibrant and connected city. 

Final plans for the precinct development are subject to ongoing engagement with industry and key stakeholders and will continue to progress throughout 2024. 

“The Hunter Street precinct is creating an opportunity to see more jobs delivered near a world-class transport network. 

“These two new buildings will pave the way to connect people to their homes, jobs and the Sydney CBD. 

“Making sure we have enriching public spaces in our cities is an important stage in the planning process. Both stations and buildings will help revitalise Sydney’s CBD and its transformation into a 24-hour economic centre,” Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said. 

The Sydney Metro West project is delivering a new 24-kilometre underground metro railway that will double the capacity of train services between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. 

This transformative infrastructure investment will not only provide fast, reliable, turn-up-and-go metro services with fully accessible stations, but it will also link new communities to rail services as well as support employment growth and housing supply. 

Sydney Metro West is anticipated to create up to 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs during the construction phase. 

Key features of the project include: 

• A new generation of fast, safe and reliable metro trains 
• Australia’s first fully accessible railway: level access between train and platform 
• New driverless technology, including platform screen safety doors keeping people and objects like prams away from tracks 
• At all times, a team of expert train controllers will monitor Sydney Metro, making sure everything runs smoothly 
• Wheelchair spaces, separate priority seating and emergency intercoms inside trains 
• Heating and air-conditioning in all metro trains 
• Continuous mobile phone coverage throughout the metro network 

Several station locations have already been confirmed for Sydney Metro West including in Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street. Two potential station locations are also being investigated west of Sydney Olympic Park, including one at Rosehill Gardens which could support a significant increase in housing. 

Sydney Metro West is targeted to be completed and opened in 2032. 

Source: Sydney Metro; NSW Government – Media Releases (1, 2)