Tunnelling of the new 23-kilometre line of the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project is now underway, with two TBMs moving through the first 5.5-kilometre sections of the twin metro tunnels.
The 23-kilometre new railway will link residential areas with job hubs including the new Aerotropolis and connect travellers from the new airport to the rest of Sydney’s public transport system.
The line will be operational when Western Sydney International Airport opens for passenger services, with an expected travel time of 15 minutes from St Marys metro station to Airport Terminal Station and a further five minutes to the Aerotropolis Station.
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The tunnelling contract was awarded in December 2021 to CPB Contractors and Ghella Joint Venture to build the new twin metro rail tunnels.
The TBMs will excavate around 120 metres of tunnels per week, the first step in delivering the six new metro stations along the line from St Marys to the centre of the new Aerotropolis.
The two 1,066-tonne TBMs Eileen and Peggy are named after two historic figures for the region. TBM Eileen pays tribute to the first female Mayor of Penrith, Eileen Cammack OBE, who also established the first pathology laboratory at Nepean District Hospital. TBM Peggy honours pioneer aviator Peggy Kelman OBE, who was instrumental in promoting female aviation and was a flying companion of Nancy-Bird Walton.
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