The first milestone is the launch of the fourth TBM, named after Marlene Kanga AO, and the second milestone is the breakthrough of the TBM Peggy at the Airport Terminal Station. 

•  Launched the last TBM for Western Sydney Airport project 

The TBM Marlene has been launched from Sydney Metro Orchard Hills Station marking the final TBM in the ground for the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport project.   

The fourth and final TBM for the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport project has been named TBM Marlene after Dr Marlene Kanga AO, who is a global leader in engineering and a role model to women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).  

The TBM’s name was unveiled at a special launch ceremony held at the end of August at the Sydney Metro Orchard Hills Station site, with representatives from six local primary schools that participated in a TBM naming competition in attendance. 

Claremont Meadows Public School submitted the winning name, while the other schools involved, including Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Kurrambee School, St Marys South Public School, St Marys North Public School and Orchard Hills Public School, were recognised for their significant thought and effort into the suggested names put forward.  

TBM Marlene will tunnel 4.3-km, from Orchard Hills to St Marys, to carve out the metro tunnel alongside TBM Catherine which is currently about 100 m into its journey.  

The TBM will tunnel at an average speed of 120 m a week and is expected to arrive at the Sydney Metro St Marys Station site in mid-2024.   

The launch of TBM Marlene means all four TBMs are now in the ground to help build the 23-km Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line that will become the transport spine for Greater Western Sydney, connecting communities and travellers with the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the growing region.  

• TBM Peggy's break through at future Western Sydney Airport Station 

On September 4 th, 2023 the 1,066-t TBM Peggy completed the first leg of its 5.5-km journey from Airport Business Park to the Aerotropolis, following TBM Eileen who made her historic first breakthrough in July as part of the city-shaping Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport project.  

Peggy has worked around the clock at an average speed of 120 m per week to build the fully lined 1.26-km tunnel from Airport Business Park, excavating around 112,000 t of rock.   

In preparation for Peggy’s arrival, approximately 293,000 t of rock have been excavated from the 25-m-deep Airport Terminal station box.  

The TBM will now traverse the station box before being relaunched, to tunnel under the future Western Sydney International Airport, with the TBM expected to arrive at the Aerotropolis Station site in 2024.  

TBM Peggy is named after Peggy Kelman OAM, an Australian aviation pioneer and adventurer. Peggy Kelman was a friend of Nancy-Bird Walton, the namesake of the new international airport.  

A total of four TBMs will build the 9.8-km twin tunnels for the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line between St Marys and Aerotropolis.   

The 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 information please  click here to follow the journey of on Western Sydney Airport TBMs, here and au/11 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.sydneymetro.info, https://www.ghella.com/en/ and https://www.sydneymetro.info/westernsydneyairportline. 37/23.