Not one but two of the machines that will build the North West Rail Link tunnels will be in the ground by the end of this year, Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian announced this morning.
‘‘We’re ever so slightly ahead [of schedule],’’ Ms Berejiklian said with reference to completion of the $8.3 billion eight-station rail network.
She was speaking from within the Bella Vista Station box, which is now almost 10 metres deep.
Behind her, on a south-facing concrete wall was a diagram of where the two tunnel boring machines would go — the first of which has now been built overseas and is on its way to Australia from France via China.
It will be called Elizabeth.
A staff member told the News the underground train platform would sit between the two tunnels.
Also present was Premier Mike Baird who confirmed the Northwest Rapid Transit Consortium as the preferred operator to deliver the project’s operations contract.
Pick up Thursday’s Hills News and Rouse Hill Courier newspapers for the full story.
Click here for more on the North West Rail Link.
Click here to take an illustrated tour of the eight train stations.
