NSW shortlists consortia for Western Sydney Metro line tunnelling works

Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) Government has shortlisted three consortia to execute the new metro railway line tunnelling works, which will operate between Greater Western Sydney and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.

The qualified entities include John Holland Gamuda joint venture (JV), Bouygues Construction Australia and Acciona Construction Australia.

The winning entity will work on the 10km twin metro railway tunnels and related excavations of station boxes.

The contract for the station box and tunnelling will be assigned by the end of this year.

In mid-2023, the first of four mega tunnel boring machines will be deployed in the ground.

Both the Australian and NSW Governments are working together on the 23km metro railway, along with the six stations between St Marys and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, including two stations at the airport.

This project is expected to generate approximately 14,000 job opportunities.

In addition, excavation at the Central Station has reached the lowest level of the new Sydney Metro station box, which happens to be around 27m below ground level.

In comparison with the other Sydney Metro stations, the two underground Metro platforms at Central will be built in a different style.

In a separate development, the NSW government has initiated the designing and planning work on a rail passing loop at Coolamon, in an attempt to enhance rail freight efficiency in the state’s south-west region.

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said that the A$11.66m project, which is funded by the Fixing Country Rail Programme, will witness the extension of the current 900m loop to 1,500m.