Infographic depicting a cross section, with a property on the surface and the tunnel below. An arrow and value indicates the depth of the tunnel below the property, and another arrow and value indicate the surface distance from the property to the tunnel.

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Tunnel feature depth, cross section and substratum acquisition zone is indicative only and may vary due to ground conditions and detailed design.

This image indicates the nearest underground metro tunnel feature, other tunnel features may be located deeper below the surface.

Typically a seven metre zone above, below and either side of the tunnels forms part of any substratum acquisition however this will vary from property to property and may be up to 10 metres.

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Sydney Metro West Tunnel Tool

The Sydney Metro West project will include 24 kilometres of twin tunnels between Westmead and the Sydney CBD.

This once-in-a-century infrastructure investment will transform Sydney for generations to come, doubling rail capacity between the Parramatta and Sydney CBDs, linking new communities to rail services and supporting employment growth and housing supply.

Sydney Metro uses advanced tunnelling technology and adheres to stringent conditions to ensure that tunnels are built safely.

Our track record over the past eight years has confirmed that tunnelling is a very safe and efficient method of construction, especially in Sydney sandstone, and works are unlikely to cause damage to buildings or infrastructure.

Sydney Metro West is being delivered as part of three separate tunnelling packages:

Western Tunnelling Package

Gamuda & Laing O’Rourke Consortium (GLC)

Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke Consortium (GLC) has been awarded the contract to deliver nine kilometres of twin metro rail tunnels between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park, excavation for two new metro stations, a stabling and maintenance facility at Clyde and a precast facility at Eastern Creek.

View Tunnel Boring Machine progress

Central Tunnelling Package

Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture (AFJV)

Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture (AFJV) has been awarded the contract to deliver 11 kilometres of twin metro rail tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park and excavate five new metro stations, including Burwood North Station and Burwood North crossover cavern.

View Tunnel Boring Machine progress

Eastern Tunnelling Package

John Holland CPB contractors and Ghella Joint Venture (JCG)

John Holland CPB Contractors Ghella Joint Venture (JCG) has been awarded the contract to deliver 3.5 kilometres of twin metro rail tunnels between The Bays and Hunter Street and excavate the Pyrmont and Hunter Street metro stations including a turnback cavern to the east of the new Hunter Street Station, allowing trains to turn around before travelling back towards Parramatta.

Learn more about tunnelling on Sydney Metro West

Tunnel Boring Machines

Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are used to excavate through sandstone and shale. These will carve the mainline tunnels along the alignment between Westmead and Sydney CBD.

Roadheaders

Roadheaders are used to excavate irregular shaped underground infrastructure like caverns. These machines are mounted on bulldozer style tracks and use rotating cutting heads to cut away the rock face.

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Tunnel depths

How we choose tunnel alignments

Just as a railway line on the surface follows a preserved and approved corridor, the tunnels for Sydney Metro West will run through a reserved underground rail corridor – also known as a substratum corridor. Where possible, the underground corridor runs beneath major roads, open space or public buildings. However, in some cases where this is not feasible the underground corridor runs beneath private property. Sydney Metro needs to acquire land deep under the surface of property to build the tunnels including private property.

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Western Tunnelling Package

Gamuda & Laing O’Rourke Consortium (GLC)

Central Tunnelling Package

Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture (AFJV)

Eastern Tunnelling Package

John Holland CPB contractors and Ghella Joint Venture (JCG)

Tunnel Boring Machines

Roadheaders

How we choose tunnel alignments

Westmead metro station (under construction)

Parramatta metro station (under construction)

Sydney Olympic Park metro station (under construction)

North Strathfield metro station (under construction)

Burwood North Station (under construction)

Five Dock station (under construction)

The Bays station (under construction)

Pyrmont station (under construction)

Hunter Street station (under construction)