AUSTRALIA: The New South Wales government has awarded four major contracts for the Sydney Metro West project to build a 24 km underground line connecting the city centre with Parramatta and Westmead.
Trains, Systems, Maintenance & Operations
The Metro Trains West Consortium of China’s MTR Corp and CRRC has been awarded the 22-year TSMO contract. This includes the supply of 16 trainsets, and 15 years of operations and maintenance after the line opens in 2032.
MTR Corp said the consortium would supply ‘next-generation’ driverless metro trains, signalling systems, communications and control systems and undertake system integration, testing and commissioning.
The Hong Kong company already operates the Sydney Metro line M1 through its subsidiary Metro Trains Sydney. ‘As a global leader in railway operations, MTR brings extensive expertise in railway construction and service delivery’, said Property & International Business Director David Tang on January 5. ’By partnering with CRRC — one of the world’s foremost suppliers of rolling stock — we will deliver world-class systems and operational solutions for this line, connecting new communities and helping drive the city forward.’
CRRC Vice-President Feng Wang said Sydney Metro West was ‘a landmark project that will shape the city for years to come’. He said the supplier is to build on ‘the technological advancement and expertise CRRC has demonstrated in providing world-leading driverless metro systems across China and abroad’, and ‘our experience and close partnership with MTR give us the confidence to successfully deliver this project and exceed its expectations’.
Linewide Package
John Holland has been selected for the linewide contract covering 60 km of track, railway systems and construction of a 38ha stabling and maintenance facility in Clyde.
This includes buildings for the stabling and maintenance facility, operations control centre and the Rosehill servicing facility, high and low voltage electrical systems, 25 kV traction power, and associated communications and control systems.
The contractor’s rail team will undertake most of the work in-house. ‘We’ll draw on international experience and lessons learned to deliver an Australian-first track system that will significantly improve constructability and noise and vibration performance inside tunnels and stations’, said Managing Director for Rail & Transport Steve Butcher.
Stations Package West
Gamuda has been appointed to design and build five underground stations at Westmead, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and The Bays. Each will be unique in character, and designed to create vibrant places reflecting the local context and future aspirations of the areas.
Hunter Street Station & Precinct
The Metropolis Consortium of Lendlease, Mirvac and Coombes Property Group has been appointed as Precinct Development Partner for the construction of the landmark Hunter Street station and two over-station commercial developments.
The consortium brings together expertise in station delivery, commercial development and placemaking to deliver what is planned as a transformative urban project. Lendlease is expected to commence construction of the station’s main works in late 2026.
Hunter Street station will offer a 20 min journey to Parramatta, pedestrian connections to Wynyard and direct access to the M1 platforms at Martin Place. It is expected to be the busiest on the Metro West Line, with 15 000 people passing through every hour in the morning peak, increasing to more than 30 000 by 2061.
‘Lendlease brings extensive experience in delivering city shaping, integrated station developments, including Metro Martin Place and Victoria Cross, and will apply that expertise to set new benchmarks for transport-led precincts with the delivery of the Hunter Street project’, said Tom Mackellar, CEO Development at Lendlease.
Coombes Property Group CEO Michael Coombes said ‘the precinct will contribute meaningfully to the city, creating enduring commercial space, high-quality public amenity and a connected destination that serves the workforce and wider community. Working alongside Grimshaw Architects, we are delivering a premium, sustainable workplace directly connected to the new metro at the heart of Sydney’s commercial core.’
Further contracts
Contracts for the stations at Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park and Pyrmont are to be finalised later in 2026.
Three consortia have been been invited to tender for the Pyrmont Integrated Station Development contract covering an underground station below a 31-storey integrated development with five levels of commercial and retail space and up to 160 flats. These are Gamuda Engineering and Gamuda (Australia) with Urban Property Group Australasia; John Holland with Third.i Property; and Watpac Construction with Plenary Origination.
