Sydney Metro West Enters Major Construction Phase With $7.7bn in New Contracts
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Sydney Metro West has entered a major new delivery phase, with four large contracts—collectively valued between $7.6 billion and $7.8 billion—signed in late December. The deals mark a shift from tunnelling to station construction, rail systems installation and long-term operations planning for the 24‑km underground line between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
The wider Metro West program, valued at roughly $19 billion, is one of Australia’s largest active public transport projects. It is targeting an opening in 2032.
New Contracts Cover Stations, Track, Systems and OperationsWorks now accelerating across the corridor follow years of planning, approvals and tunnelling since construction formally began in 2022.
The recently executed packages include:
Linewide Package – John Holland ($2.2bn)John Holland has been awarded the Linewide Package, covering:
• 60km of track
• Power, communications and ventilation
• Fire systems
• A 38‑hectare stabling and maintenance facility at Clyde
Gamuda will design and construct five deep underground stations at:
• Westmead
• North Strathfield
• Burwood North
• Five Dock
• The Bays
Highlighting the network integration benefits, NSW Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“New interchange links at Westmead and North Strathfield will allow metro passengers to connect directly with Sydney Trains service, strengthening the wider transport network.”
Trains, Systems, Maintenance & Operations – Metro Trains West ($2.7bn)The Metro Trains West consortium—led by MTR Corp with CRRC Corp—secured the 22‑year contract covering:
• New rolling stock
• Driverless train systems
• Operations and maintenance for 15 years post‑opening
• System commissioning and integration
Sydney Metro also appointed the Metropolis Consortium—Lendlease, Mirvac and Coombes Property Group—as the precinct development partner for:
• Hunter Street Station
• Two over‑station commercial buildings in the CBD
Image credit: Sydney Metro West
Hunter Street will be the line’s primary CBD interchange, providing direct connections to multiple rail services beneath one of the city’s densest commercial districts. The station box will also accommodate turnback operations, making it one of the most technically demanding sites on the project.
Complex Engineering Across the CorridorEngineering documentation highlights significant geotechnical challenges, with the alignment running through:
• Ashfield Shale
• Deeper sections of Hawkesbury Sandstone
• Localised alluvium and fill near river crossings and former industrial land
Shallow groundwater along much of the route has required extensive dewatering, monitoring and sequencing. Some station caverns will remain open for up to two years, relying on staged excavation and dense instrumentation.
Recent works at Westmead illustrate the complexity, including installation of what the state described as the largest formwork arch in the Southern Hemisphere, followed by major concrete pours forming cavern walls up to eight feet thick.
Constraints are most acute at Hunter Street, located beneath high‑rise towers and near existing underground rail assets. Planning documents cite tight clearances and stringent movement tolerances requiring conservative excavation methodologies.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and BeyondSydney Metro expects tunnelling to finish in 2026, with station construction, fit‑out and systems installation accelerating in the following years. Remaining station contracts—Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park and Pyrmont—are expected to be awarded later this year.
Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said the contract signings position the project for a significant shift in activity:
“With these landmark signings in place, Sydney Metro West is set for a busy and exciting 2026.”
Source: Engineering News-Record (ENR)
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