NEWS |


Two TBMs breakthrough on Sydney Metro West


Planning OK for Cable Tunnel UK - National Grid has received full planning approval to replace the existing Thames Cable Tunnel, in Kent, with a project requiring the construction of a 2.3km-long tunnel under the River Thames. The new, Grain to Tilbury cable tunnel


project is part of National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade to strengthen the UK’s energy network. Originally installed in the 1960s, the


present Thames tunnel and its cables have reached the end of their operational life. The new project involves the construction


of a new tunnel under the river, the installation of power cables, and new headhouses at each end for access. Ferrovial in partnership with BeMo


(Ferrovial BeMo JV) has begun construction on the project, which is due for completion in 2029. Grain to Tilbury project director Mark


Above: More than 80% of tunnelling is now complete on Sydney Metro West. TBMs Betty and Dorothy are expected to reach the future Parramatta metro station by mid-2025


AUSTRALIA - Two TBMs constructing the Sydney Metro West tunnels have reached breakthrough, 24m below the surface, at the Clyde Metro junction caverns. These latest milestone mean that


more than 80% of main excavation for the 24km-long twin-tunnels on the metro railway line has been completed. TBM ‘Dorothy’ broke through the


solid rock walls to arrive at the junction caverns in February, after spending three months tunnelling 1.1km from Clyde. TBM ‘Betty’ was slightly ahead,


arriving at the Clyde junction caverns in December last year. The TBM spent seven weeks traversing the cavern and is now tunnelling towards Parramatta metro station. The junction cavern at Clyde will


play a critical role in the Sydney Metro network as it connects the metro tunnels with the above ground stabling and maintenance facility, where the network’s new fleet of trains will be housed when not in service. Since starting their westward


tunnelling journey in September 2024, TBMs Betty and Dorothy have excavated about 200m of tunnel each week.


6 | April 2025 So far, the TBMs have built 5.7km


of twin tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Clyde, excavating more than 1.1 million tonnes of material. They have installed more than 41,000 precast concrete segments, each weighing about 3.8 tonnes. Both TBMs will now build a


further 1.1km section of tunnels to reach the site of the future Parramatta metro station by mid- year. Tunnelling on the Sydney Metro


West project began in April 2023. Since then the two TBMs have each built more than 75% of the 9km of tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead; two further TBMs - ‘Daphne’ and ‘Beatrice’ - completed 11km of twin tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park, in October 2024; and, TBMs ‘Jessie’ and ‘Ruby’ have completed 33% of the 2.3km tunnels between The Bays and Hunter Street in the Sydney Central Business District (CBD). The remaining 1.7km of the alignment is being excavated by roadheaders. Sydney Metro West, which will


double rail capacity between the Sydney CBD and Parramatta, is scheduled to open in 2032.


Farmer, said: “We are delighted our planning applications for the Grain to Tilbury project have been approved, and this marks a significant step forward in upgrading electricity infrastructure in the region. We look forward to progressing with the next stages of the project and continuing to work closely with local communities and stakeholders.”


Silica health risk study AUSTRALIA - New South Wales has a task force to investigate silica-related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects. The task force, made up of


government, medical, industry and union representatives, is to provide expert guidance to prevent and manage silica and other dust-related disease associated with tunnelling projects in the state. Focus is being placed on four areas:


access and transparency of data; improved health monitoring; best practice controls for health and safety; and, enhanced compliance. Under the programme, those responsible


for a project must ensure workers have access to workplace air monitoring data, enabling SafeWork NSW to make an exceedance notification date publicly available, and also have the information guide regulatory reform. SafeWork NSW will review and revise


the Tunnels Under Construction Code of Practice, and maintain and reinforce dedicated resources to monitor tunnelling and appropriate dust analysis to support optimal work health and safety. It is also to develop project compliance.


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