Last week a third TBM has been launched for the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport project at Orchard Hills. The TBM is named after Catherine White, who has worked tirelessly to advocate against violence towards women in the Blacktown Local Government Area since 1995. Catherine managed the Women's Activities and Self-Help House (WASH) House from 2003 to 2013. Catherine won the Blacktown Woman of the Year Award in 2012 for her ongoing advocacy work, and her contribution to helping many local women and children escape domestic violence.
TBM Catherine - the first TBM EPB to be used for Sydney Metro project - will carve out one of the 4.3-km tunnels from Orchard Hills to the new metro station site at St Marys. The TBM is designed to support the ground as they excavate through shale rock and clay along the northern section of the line.
TBM Catherine joins TBMs Eileen and Peggy which are well into their journeys to build the 5.5-km southern twin metro tunnels after launching at Airport Business Park towards the Aerotropolis station site this year. Each TBM will excavate about 120 m a week.
A fourth and final TBM for the project will launch at Orchard Hills in the coming months to build the tunnel alongside TBM Catherine.
The new metro line is a city-shaping project that will provide communities with easier access to job hubs, commercial and education facilities, and connections to Sydney’s wider public transport network.
The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line will be operational when Western Sydney International Airport opens for passenger services, with an expected travel time of 15 minutes from St Marys metro station to Airport Terminal Station and a further five minutes to Aerotropolis Station.
For further on the project click here and au/11 for the tunnelbuilder archive, visit https://www.sydneymetro.info, https://www.ghella.com/en/ and https://www.sydneymetro.info/westernsydneyairportline. 30/23.
