By lyndamyer
Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project commissioned the third TBM at Orchard Hills.
In order to supporting the ground as they excavate through shale rock and clay along the northern section of the line, this is the first Sydney Metro project to use EPBMs.
Tunneling from Orchard Hills to the new metro station site at St Marys, TBM Catherine is due to construct one of the 4.3km twin tunnels.
The TBM is named after Catherine White, an advocate against violence towards women in the Blacktown area.
Following their launching at Airport Business Park towards the Aerotropolis station site this year, TBMs Eileen and Peggy are building the 5.5km southern twin metro tunnels, so TBM Catherine joins these TBMs and each one will dig about 120m a week.
Additionally, for building the tunnel alongside TBM Catherine, a fourth and final TBM for the project will start up at Orchard Hills in the future months.
Considering the creation of a network of four metro lines, 46 stations and 113km of new metro rail, Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project, while it also comprises the existing Metro North West Line and three new lines: City & Southwest; West; and Sydney Western Airport.
The date of inaugurating Western Sydney Airport line is slated to be when Western Sydney International Airport opens for passenger services, with an expected travel time of 15 minutes from St Mary’s metro station to Airport Terminal Station and a further five minutes to Aerotropolis Station.
