<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> The South West Rail Link project in New South Wales has taken a major step forward with an 80-metre rail underpass having been drilled beneath the Hume Highway, as tens of thousands of drivers passed unaware overhead. </span> <p>The underpass means a continuous South West Rail Link (SWRL) corridor now stretches for the first time between Glenfield South and Leppington.</p><p>The work was carried out by John Holland which has a $586m contract to deliver the NWRL’s 10.5km of new twin track electrified rail line from Glenfield to Leppington new passenger stations at Leppington and Edmondson Park a train stabling yard at Rossmore and civil works including the underpass described above.</p><p>Describing the underpass as a “major engineering feat”, NSW minister for transport Gladys Berejiklian said the SWRL was surging ahead.</p><p>“Since November 2012 6,000 cubic metres of rock removed from underneath the busy eight-lane section of the Hume Highway at Ingleburn Gardens Estate, Glenfield,” Berejiklian said.</p><p>The project included a laser guidance, bullseye and camera system that allowed the operator controlling the machine to complete the bores within specified tolerances of plus or minus 25mm.</p><p>With the earthworks for the new line almost complete, the focus will now shift to laying tracks and installing services and utilities.</p><p>“Construction of major bridges for the project is progressing rapidly, with the successful installation of large concrete beams over Campbelltown Road, Camden Valley Way and Cowpasture Road in December last year,” Berejiklian said.</p><p>“It’s pleasing to see the rail link making significant progress. The community is getting an increased sense of the scale of the project.”<br />Passenger rail services on the NWRL are scheduled to commence in 2016.</p><p> </p>
