This is the first Sydney Metro project to use EPBMs, which are designed to support the ground as they excavate through shale rock and clay along the northern section of the line.
TBM Catherine will carve out one of the 4.3km twin tunnels from Orchard Hills to the new metro station site at St Marys.
The TBM is named after Catherine White, an advocate against violence towards women in the Blacktown area.
TBM Catherine joins TBMs Eileen and Peggy which are building the 5.5km southern twin metro tunnels after launching at Airport Business Park towards the Aerotropolis station site this year. Each TBM will excavate about 120m 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.
Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project, creating a network of four metro lines, 46 stations and 113km of new metro rail. It comprises the existing Metro North West Line and three new lines: City & Southwest; West; and Sydney Western Airport.
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 Mary’s metro station to Airport Terminal Station and a further five minutes to Aerotropolis Station.
