In Sydney, Australia, TBM Elizabeth at the North West Rail Link has broken through into the new Showground Station site. Showground station is being built underground with platforms about 20 m beneath the surface, providing access to existing residential development, the Castle Hill Showground and nearby employment areas.

Elizabeth started tunnelling in September, 2014 some four months ahead of schedule, and is now halfway through its 9 km journey from Bella Vista to Cherrybrook. The TBM will undergo maintenance as she is moved through the Showground station area, before setting off again towards Castle Hill station and then on to Cherrybrook where she will be removed.

The four TBMs in the ground have so far built more than 12 km of new tunnels, well over a third of the current 30 km task. The twin 15 km-long tunnels from Bella Vista to Epping are Australia’s longest-ever railway tunnels. More than 1 million tonnes of rock has been excavated and recycled on commercial, residential and environmental projects elsewhere in Sydney.

The North West Rail Link is ahead of schedule, with services to start in the first half of 2019, with a train every four minutes in peak periods. Click here and au/11 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://nwrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/. 23/15.