Premier Mike Baird stood in what has been dubbed “The Castle Hill Cavern” this morning to announce that tunnelling on Sydney Metro Northwest had passed the half way mark.
Flanked by Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance plus local MPs, The Premier was at Castle Hill to talk about the Budget, transport and in particular the Sydney Metro Northwest
We are building the infrastructure here that people have been waiting for. This has been promised since 1989,” he said.
The $8.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest project (formerly the North West Rail Link) is ahead of schedule and is due to open in the first half of 2019
The 17m high cavern, opposite Castle Towers, took six months to excavate and will provide room for trains to change tracks underground when there are service disruptions or maintenance work.
The Premier said: “We’re powering ahead to deliver the transport of tomorrow for Sydney as quickly as possible … We are not waiting any longer — which is why yesterday’s Budget allocated more than $590 million to bring forward construction of critical infrastructure.
“This funding will ensure we get these important projects underway as soon as possible so we can start seeing the benefits.”
The Times asked Transport Minister Andrew Constance: If the line would be extended to Schofields and beyond to link up to the new airport planned for Badgerys Creek Creek: “All the options are going to be put on the table,” he said. “We will be doing our homework.”
He backed up the “We are getting on with the job” mantra: “This project will be a game changer for Sydney and NSW and today is another big step forward as we get on with the job of building Sydney’s tomorrow,” he said.
“The 17m high tunnel will become a key part of ensuring reliable train services by enabling a new metro train every four minutes in the peak.”
The new service will be delivering 45,000 passengers an hour compared to the current rail system average of 25,000 passengers an hour.
Florence, the second of four massive tunnel boring machines, has recently broke through into the site of the new Showground station.
The Treasurer Ms Berejiklian said you couldn’t be in the Hills community without noticing the changes. “ Public transport is a productivity driver.”
“We have the strongest economy in Australia and we are creating jobs right across the state, with major infrastructure projects like the Sydney Metro Northwest.”
Premier Mike Baird talks to local members and Ministers in the cavern. Photo Peter Kelly
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams was beaming. He said it was good news for the area with the Budget also allocating $8 million for the Showground Rd upgrade.
Baulkham Hills state MP David Elliot said: “This is a dream come true for us. The Hills is finally getting a world class infrastructure after years of neglect.”
Stage two of the project _ the 30km Sydney Metro City and Southwest extending metro rail from Chatswood, under Sydney Harbour, through new stations in the CBD and west to Bankstown is expected to open in 2024.
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