Transport for NSW has officially called for tenders from the two consortia selected to the shortlist to build the Sydney Harbour tunnel for the second stage of the Sydney Metro project.
A consortium of Ferrovial, Acciona and BAM, and a consortium of John Holland, CPB and Ghella were both named to the shortlist to deliver the project earlier this year.
NSW transport and infrastructure minister Andrew Constance on September 2 officially invited the two shortlisted candidates to tender for the twin tunnel construction deal.
“When Sydney Metro is extended into the CBD and beyond in 2024, there will be ultimate capacity for a metro train every two minutes in each direction under the city,” the minister said.
While the network will be built for up to 30 trains per hour in each direction (i.e. one “every two minutes”), TfNSW is only planning for initial capacity of one train every four minutes at peak, in each direction on the new line.
The call for tenders comes as construction is getting underway on the first station platform on the Sydney Metro Northwest project.
The Northwest portion of the Sydney Metro project will connect Sydney’s north west with Chatswood, via a new line to Epping, and the conversion of the existing Epping-Chatswood link.
The tunnel under the harbour will make up a significant portion of the second stage of Sydney Metro, which will extend the new line from Chatswood to the CBD, then on to Sydenham, where it will merge with the existing line, which will also be converted to Metro standard as far as Bankstown.