Leading engineering and construction firms have secured multi-billion-dollar contracts on one of Sydney’s biggest railway projects.

Four contracts worth a combined $11.5 billion have been signed in relation to the $27-$29 billion Sydney Metro West project.

Set to open in 2032, Sydney Metro West is a new 24-kilometer underground metro railway that will double rail capacity between Paramatta and the Sydney CBD.

Once complete, the it will deliver fast, reliable, turn-up-and-go metro services with fully accessible stations.

The new line will feature nine stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Stratfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, the Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street.

With tunnelling almost complete, the latest contracts will enable work to commence on tracklaying, station-building and construction of a 38-hectare stabling yard and operations centre at Clyde.

The four contracts include:

  • The $3.2 billion Linewide Package. This involves laying 60 kilometres of track, installation of rail systems, ventilation, fire systems, cross passages and the construction of a stabling and maintenance facility at Clyde. This contract has been awarded to civil construction firm John Holland.
  • The $2.85 billion Stations Package West project. This involves design and construction of five new underground metro stations at Westmead, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays. This has been awarded to multinational engineering, infrastructure and property company Gamuda.
  • The 22-year, $3.96 billion Trains, Systems, Maintenance and Operations contract. This involves a 22-year contract to provide the track, the tunnel fit out, to procure and commission a fleet of 16 new-generation metro trains and to operate and maintain the Sydney Metro West network for a period of 15 years. This has been secured by the Metro Trains West Consortium – a joint venture which is led by Hong Kong based multi-national railway operation firm MTR Corporation along with Chinese state-owned rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Corporation.
  • The $1.5 billion Hunter Street Station and Precinct, Precinct Development Partner project. This involves significant urban renewal project in the Sydney CBD that will see the consortium deliver Sydney Metro West’s flagship city station at Hunter Street along with two over-station commercial developments which the new station will anchor. Development and delivery partners include property development giants Lendlease, Mirvac and Coombes Property Group.

(Clyde stabling and maintenance facility. Image: supplied)

Separately, a shortlist of three consortia has been invited to tender for the Pyrmont Integrated Station Development contract.

These consortia include:

  • Gamuda Engineering, Gamuda and Urban Property Group Australasia
  • John Holland and Third Property
  • Watpac Construction and Plenary Origination.

NSW Transport Minister John Graham welcomed the latest announcement.

“Awarding these contracts is an important moment for Sydney Metro West which takes the project from tunnelling to track-laying, station-building, systems and train operation,” Graham said.

Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Ragan said that the contracts mark a significant step forward for the Sydney Metro West project.

(Artist impression of North Strathfield Station. Image: supplied)

Whilst the project is now making progress, it has been subject to multiple cost blowouts and delays which have seen its initial $12 billion cost estimate more than double to the current cost estimate of $27-$29 billion.

NSW Transport Minister John Graham has blamed the cost blowout on the former Liberal Government, which was in power until 2023.

 

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