Tunnelling activities on Sydney Metro West forges ahead

Construction of Sydney Metro West continues to power ahead while commuters enjoy the fast and efficient new train services with the opening of the Sydney Metro City Line. 

Sydney Metro West has reached significant milestones in the delivery of the new 24-kilometre rail line to Westmead, including the arrival of two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) at Sydney Olympic Park to complete the first two tunnel entries for the future metro station. 

TBM Betty was the first to arrive at the Sydney Olympic Park site in June of this year, followed by TBM Dorothy on 29 July. TBM Betty was named after Olympic champion Betty Cuthbert while TBM Dorothy was named after human rights activist Dorothy Buckland-Fuller. 

The two TBMs took 10 months to complete the 4.6-kilometre journey from Clyde – the site of the future Sydney Metro West stabling and maintenance facility – to Sydney Olympic Park. 

Collectively, TBMs Betty and Dorothy excavated about 857,500 tonnes of material to complete the first leg of their journey while installing over 32,600 precast concrete segments to line the new tunnel walls. 

TBM Betty has been disassembled upon reaching the Sydney Olympic Park station site, lifted out of the station box and transported by truck back to Clyde where she will be relaunched in the opposite direction towards Westmead. 

Meanwhile, the disassembly of TBM Dorothy is underway and is expected to join TBM Betty to begin their journey to Westmead in a month. Both TBMs are expected to reach Westmead in mid-2025. 

“We have welcomed the world’s fastest athletes and biggest rockstars to Sydney Olympic Park, and now it is time Metro West’s superstar TBMs to headline here in Sydney’s west. 

“Sydney’s brand-new rail line will give sports and entertainment fans unrivalled access to this part of town and significantly enhance transport options during major events. 

“Sydney loves its new Metro, and teams are working around the clock to bring Metro West. 

“Metro West’s TBMs are digging dual tunnels as part of our Government’s $19 billion investment in extending Metro across Sydney and continuing the state’s infrastructure pipeline,” Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said. 

At the opposite end of the Sydney Olympic Park station box, two other TBMs – Beatrice and Daphne – are due to break through later this year. 

TBMs Beatrice and Daphne are currently building the 11-kilometre section of the Sydney Metro West line between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park. Both machines have recently been relaunched from North Strathfield and still have two kilometres of tunnel left to build before completing their journey to Sydney Olympic Park. 

The latest addition TBM Jessie is now tunnelling its way from The Bays towards the Sydney CBD at a slow and steady pace, moving its way underground alongside the Anzac Bridge. This massive machine has excavated 230 metres of tunnel since it launched in May. The final TBM for Sydney Metro West is expected to begin digging the second of two new harbour tunnels later this year. 

“It’s been great to welcome TBMs Betty and Dorothy to Sydney Olympic Park, and Daphne and Beatrice have been hard at work so they can join us here too. 

“By 2032, Sydney Olympic Park won’t just be linked to the rest of Sydney by rail, but also by this new Metro and Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2. 

“This will give people who work, live or play in Sydney Olympic Park many ways to travel in and out,” Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said. 

Sydney Metro West, which is anticipated to open in 2032, will deliver a new 24-kilometre underground railway that will double the capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. 

Station locations for this new rail line have been confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Station, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD while two potential station locations are being investigated west of Sydney Olympic Park – including Rosehill Gardens – which could support a significant increase in housing. 

Sydney Metro West is expected to create about 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs during construction. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Sydney Metro (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Magazine; Inside Construction