Australia’s most skilled experts in tunnelling and construction have been appointed to work on the detailed planning for the high-speed rail project in NSW.
The Newcastle to Sydney High project has moved further into the development stage with three major construction consortia shortlisted to compete in an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process.
The GoFar Joint Venture includes CPB Contractors, Ferrovial Construction (Australia), Vinci Construction Grands Projets Australia. Gamuda Engineering, FCC Construction Australia, and Samsung C&T Corporation are in the Advanced Alliance Joint Venture; and Acciona and John Holland are working together in their own JV.
One of the three consortia will be selected by the Australian Government’s High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) to deliver the tunnelling work and associated construction work in Area Package1.
HSRA CEO, Tim Parke, said the Authority will be working with the consortia to map out things like the best high speed rail route, diameter of the tunnels, and the kind of “mega tunnel boring machines” that will be needed. Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King, said the three consortia “will determine the best and most innovative ways” to construct the 35 kilometres of twin tunnels between Berowra and Ourimbah.
As part of the project, an advanced manufacturing facility that will be established and use automation, robotics and precision manufacturing to deliver the high-speed railway more efficiently. The aim of the facility is to create skilled jobs and opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers to help deliver the project.
The proposed high speed rail stations are central Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, central Sydney, Parramatta, and Western Sydney International Airport. The journey between Newcastle and Sydney is expected to take around an hour, and about 30 minutes from the Central Coast either direction.
Image: HSRA has undertaken geotechnical investigations north of Sydney, sourcing rock and sediment samples to inform the design and depth of potential rail tunnels.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com