Track laying through Sydney is more than 95 per cent complete in the 15.5 kilometre metro twin tunnels, as part of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.
The progress brings Sydney one step closer to seeing metro trains through the city in 2024.
A team of more than 500 people worked tirelessly over the past 15 months to plan and lay more than 58 kilometres of Australian rail steel deep under Sydney, including 3.2 kilometres under Sydney Harbour.
Just over three kilometres of track remains to be installed through the seven underground stations – Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Waterloo and Central.
These tracks will connect the City & Southwest metro line with the Metro North West Line, running deep under Sydney Harbour, through the CBD and out to Bankstown.
More than 4000 tonnes of Australian steel is being used for the 31 kilometres of tracks from Chatswood to Sydenham, including 200 tonnes under the Harbour.
More than 98,000 tonnes of concrete – enough to fill more than 16 Olympic swimming pools – has been used to embed 45,000 sleepers.
Track construction is expected to be complete later this year, ready for train testing to start in 2023 ahead of passenger services starting in 2024.
Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said the City and Southwest project is three times longer than the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project, making it a game-changing public transport project. Work is underway to complete the track laying, with just over three kilometres of track remaining to be installed through the seven underground stations.
“The railway tunnels are transforming before our eyes and getting ever closer for services starting in 2024. By then, more than 50,000 people will have worked on the project. This is a huge economic boost for our construction sector throughout Sydney,” he said.
“These tracks will help connect the booming North West region of Sydney, deep under Sydney Harbour, through the CBD and out to Bankstown – making Sydney more connected than ever before.”
The Sydney Metro City & Southwest project is extending the Metro North West Line into the City and beyond to Bankstown. New stations are being delivered at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo, along with new underground platforms at Central Station.
