Tunnelling is progressing well on new Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line

The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport development in New South Wales is forging ahead as tunnelling works reach the halfway mark to St Marys. 

Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Catherine and Marlene have broken through at the Clermont Meadows services facility shaft after they were launched at the Orchard Hills Station site in July and August of last year respectively. 

The two TBMs will move at an average speed of 120 metres a week, carving out the 4.3-kilometre twin tunnels all the way to St Marys. 

“We are one step closer to seeing transformative public transport delivered for Greater Western Sydney. 

“When the new metro line opens, passengers will have a world-class transport option directly to the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and major job hubs, including the new Aerotropolis,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

To date, the TBMs have removed 600,000 tonnes of spoil – enough to fill 95 Olympic swimming pools – and installed about 17,820 precast concrete segments as tunnelling works progress under the M4 Motorway towards the 21-metre-deep services shaft. 

TBMs Catherine and Marlene will now cross the 16-metre-diameter service shaft that is used to supply materials such as concrete and steel before they are relaunched to complete their journey, reaching St Marys by mid-2024. 

Meanwhile, two other TBMs – Peggy and Eileen – are building the 5.5-kilometre southern twin tunnels from Airport Business Park to the Aerotropolis. These TBMs are about three kilometres into their journey, and both are set to arrive at the Aerotropolis in late 2024. 

“Our fleet of tunnel boring machines is making big strides as they carve out the key pieces of this 23-kilometre mega project. 

“Once completed, this new city-shaping metro line will service travellers and airport workers with major population centres like Penrith, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD via St Marys,” NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said. 

Project alignment map (source: Sydney Metro)

The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line is due to be operational when the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens. 

This city-shaping development will deliver a new 23-kilometre rail line linking residential areas to important job hubs including the new Aerotropolis and connect travellers from the future Western Sydney Airport to the rest of Sydney’s public transport system. 

The project also includes six new metro stations at: 

• St Marys, interchanging with the existing suburban railway station and connecting customers with the rest of Sydney’s rail system 
• Orchard Hills, to service a future commercial and mixed-use precinct 
• Luddenham, to service a future education, innovation and commercial precinct 
• Two stations within the airport site, at the airport terminal and at the airport business park 
• The commercial heart of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis – the area named Bradfield 

“New suburbs will be able to grow around this brand-new metro line, giving Western Sydney the opportunity to attract new jobs and housing opportunities. 

“I thank residents for their patience while we build this vital airport link,” Senator for NSW Tony Sheldon said. 

The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project is supporting over 14,000 jobs during its construction, providing a major economic stimulus for the region. 

Three major contracts were awarded for delivering the new Western Sydney Airport line. The CPB Contractors and Ghella Joint Venture was awarded the tunnelling contract that will deliver the twin metro rail tunnels; and the CPB Contractors and United Infrastructure Joint Venture was awarded the contract to build the 10.6-kilometre elevated viaduct, earthworks for track formation, a rail bridge over the new M12 Motorway, a rail bridge within the airport and associated works. 

Lastly, the Parklife Metro consortium was awarded the State’s largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract to build the new stations as well as deliver 12 new metro trains, core rail systems and the stabling and maintenance facility at Orchard Hills. The consortium will also be operating and maintaining the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line for 15 years once it is up and running. 

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; NSW Government – Media Releases; NSW Government – Sydney Metro