The first of two Herrenknecht double-shield, hard rock, gripper-type TBMs has started boring on the Central Tunnel Package of the 24km Sydney Metro West line. Construction of the 11km of twin metro tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park is part of the $1.96bn Central Tunnelling Package awarded in July 2021 to the Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture.
TBM Daphne is already 150m into its 11km journey from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park, with TBM Beatrice 45m into its journey on the parallel tunnel. The two borers are 1,266 tonne, 165m long, and are designed to excavate through sandstone and shale. Each TBM will tunnel an average of 200m per week and will be operated by a team of 15 workers per shift.
These are the first of six TBMs being used to build the 24km of tunnels from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta, which have been split into three sections.
John Holland, CPB Contractors (CPB) and Ghella joint venture (JCG JV) will deliver the Eastern Tunnelling Package featuring 3.5km of metro rail tunnels between The Bays and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD, whilst the Gamuda Australia/Laing O’Rourke Consortium has been awarded the $2.16bn Western Tunnelling contract to deliver 9km of twin metro rail tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead.
Sydney Metro West will double the rail capacity between Sydney’s two biggest CBDs once passenger services commence in 2030.
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