As thousands of commuters hop onto the newly-opened Sydney Metro, residents in the city’s west have been reassured that they will also get to experience the fast and efficient trains, eventually.
Transport for NSW said today that construction works on the Sydney Metro West project have been operating around the clock, with new tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) arriving at Sydney Olympic Park.
The TBMs, named Betty and Dorothy, had already tunnelled 4.6-kilometre tunnels from Clyde, near Parramatta, before they arrived at Sydney Olympic Park, where the future Metro Station entrance will be.
READ MORE: IGA store owner offers discounts to customers paying in cash
Both machines have excavated approximately 857,500 tonnes of material, equivalent to nearly 156 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
TBM Betty has already been disassembled and taken back to Clyde, to start her tunneling journey towards Westmead.
TBM Dorothy is still being disassembled and is expected to join Betty in the journey to Westmead with both machines expected to arrive by mid-2025.
Two more TMBs, named Beatrice and Daphne are currently digging their way through an 11-kilometre section between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park.
They have two more kilometres to go until they reach the final leg of their journey, Sydney Olympic Park.
READ MORE: Kennedy expected to end his campaign Friday, in talks to endorse Trump
Meanwhile, TBM Jessie is tunnelling from The Bays towards the Sydney CBD at a slow, but steady pace.
It’s currently inching its way alongside the Anzac Bridge.
“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,” Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said.
“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.”
READ MORE: Police charge three men over alleged roles in ‘muscle gang’
The Metro West will double the rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, according to Transport for NSW.
The Metro West line will connect Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays to Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.
It is not expected to open until 2032.
links to content on ABC
9News
