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Two huge tunnel boring machines have been ordered to build the city’s next metro rail tunnels as part of the Sydney Metro West project, with the first machine set to be in the ground before the end of this year.
The two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are part of the $1.96 billion Central Tunnelling Package awarded in July to the Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture, which has contracted world-leading manufacturer Herrenknecht to design, build and deliver the TBMs following a global tender process.
Each TBM will tunnel an average of 200 metres per week and will be operated by a team of 15 workers per shift as they dig the 11 kilometre twin tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park.
These are the first of six TBMs being used to build the 24-kilometre tunnels from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta.
The two borers are 1,266 tonnes, 165-metre long double-shield, hard rock, gripper-type TBMs, designed to excavate through sandstone and shale.
These TBMs will be specifically built for the conditions they will meet on this job, with design improvements taken on board from the experience of building more than 30 kilometres of tunnels for Sydney Metro Northwest and City & Southwest.
Sydney Metro West is a new 24-kilometre metro line with stations confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.
Construction started on Sydney Metro West in 2020.
KEY FEATURES:
- Twin 11 kilometre metro railway tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park;
- Excavation and civil works for five new stations at The Bays, Five Dock, Burwood North, North Strathfield and Sydney Olympic Park;
- Two double-shield, hard rock TBMs;
- A crossover cavern at Burwood North and one of the two precast facilities at Eastern Creek;
- More than 70,000 concrete segments to line the twin tunnels;
- Two access shafts at Burwood North and The Bays;
- A TBM launch site at The Bays Station and a TBM retrieval site at Sydney Olympic Park Station.
Source: NSW Governement
Source: Acciona
TBM Ruby to build final Sydney Metro West tunnel
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TBM Ruby has begun its journey to carve out the final section of tunnel for the city-shaping Sydney Metro West project.
Two mega TBMs arrive at Burwood North Metro Station for Sydney Metro West
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Two TBMs have arrived at the Burwood North Metro Station site as twin tunnels connecting Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD charge ahead.
