Premier inspects $8.3 billion North West Rail Link

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian today inspected construction progress on the $8.3 billion North West Rail Link – one of the key infrastructure projects transforming NSW.

Mr Baird, Ms Berejiklian and local MPs visited the site of the new Cherrybrook railway station, one of eight new stations being built for the North West Rail Link.

“The NSW Government is transforming NSW, giving residents and businesses the infrastructure they deserve and creating thousands of jobs in the process,” Mr Baird said.

“The North West Rail Link is Australia’s biggest public transport project and this vital piece of infrastructure will improve the lives of commuters in Sydney’s North West.

“Today the Minister for Transport and I received a briefing from the North West Rail Link project director, Rodd Staples, and Thiess John Holland Dragados consortium project director Terry Sleiman.

“This crucial project is proceeding rapidly and the first of the four massive tunnel boring machines are due in the ground by October this year – ahead of an end-of-year commitment.

“If you drive around the North West you will see a number of massive construction sites for this project.

“The North West Rail Link is just one of the transformational projects being delivered in NSW, including WestConnex, NorthConnex, the South West Rail Link, the CBD and South East Light Rail and Bridges for the Bush.”

At the Cherrybrook railway station site, work is well underway to excavate the “box” area, from which two tunnel boring machines will dig six kilometres to Epping.

Another two tunnel boring machines will arrive at Cherrybrook after digging nine kilometres from Bella Vista. The tunnels will be the longest rail tunnels in the country.

“The tunnel boring machines are feats of modern engineering and are under construction as we speak, ahead of being shipped to NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“I am really pleased that the first tunnel boring machine will be in operation by October, after a detailed assembly process on site.

“The $1.15 billion tunnelling contract, which was awarded in June last year, will support about 900 jobs – with a major recruitment drive now underway to fill 600 new construction jobs.”

Tunnelling consortium Thiess John Holland Dragados is targeting Greater Western Sydney in its recruitment of workers.