The two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) creating the underground rail link between Perth Airport and Forrestfield have now covered a combined length of 2.5 kilometres, with expectations that they will both arrive at the Airport Central Station site in the coming months.
By June 2019 the two 600-tonne, 130-metre-long TBMs will have tunnelled 8 kilometres under Perth Airport and the Swan River, linking new stations at Forrestfield, Airport Central and Belmont.
The first TBM, nicknamed “Grace”, was launched in July last year for its two-year journey underground to Bayswater, where the new line will spur off the Midland Line.
The second TBM, nicknamed “Sandy”, began tunnelling at Forrestfield, having been launched from the 12-metre-deep dive structure at the site of the future Forrestfield Station in late October 2017, and has been travelling at travelling an average of 26 metres per day.
The $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport link is the first of the McGowan government’s Metronet project. Along with Airport Central station, two further stations — Belmont Station and Forrestfield Station — will eventually service the new line.
When completed, the link will provide Perth Airport users direct access to the city’s central business district via an 18-minute train trip.
“The Forrestfield-Airport Link will open up the Perth foothills, providing a new option for the community to access the CBD, Perth Airport and wider public transport network,” said state transport minister Rita Saffioti.
“The Metronet team has been planning land use opportunities around Forrestfield and Redcliffe Station to create well-connected communities within the station precincts.
“The next major milestone will be when the first TBM reaches Airport Central Station in the next month or so.”
As the two TBMs make their progress, 54,000 locally made concrete segments will be installed, lining the tunnels to create walls.