Local Western Sydney students to name next TBM

Students from six primary schools across Western Sydney will have the chance to name a mega tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the 23-kilometre Sydney Metro–Western Sydney Airport line.

The six schools are Orchard Hills Public School, Claremont Meadows Public School, Our Lady of the Rosary Primary St Marys, Kurrambee School, St Marys North Public School and St Marys South Public School.

This will be an opportunity for local students to get involved in learning more about the Sydney Metro project underway in their own backyards and to put their stamp on Australia’s biggest public transport project.

The primary schools were selected within three kilometres of the northern end of the metro alignment from St Marys to Orchard Hills and are invited to submit a name for consideration.

Each school has been asked to put forward the name of an inspirational Australian woman, as tunnelling tradition dictates TBMs with female names will bring luck to the project and protect the underground workers.

The as-yet-unnamed TBM will carve out the 4.3-kilometre northern tunnels between the station sites at Orchard Hills and St Marys.

Participating schools will then be invited to visit the TBM at the future Orchard Hills Station site where the winning name will be revealed.

The Sydney Metro–Western Sydney Airport 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.

To get involved in other school-based education programs, learn more about the FastTracking the Future education program here.