The construction of the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line has reached a key milestone, with the first tracks now laid at Luddenham. This marks a significant step forward in delivering the 23-kilometre metro line that will connect communities to the forthcoming Western Sydney International Airport.
The initial section of track has been installed just north of a newly constructed rail bridge, which will carry metro services over the future M12 motorway. Track installation is now progressing northward towards St Marys, with a workforce of up to 60 people laying between 70 and 100 metres of track per day.
Over 6,400 tonnes of Australian-manufactured rail steel will be used along the route between St Marys and Bradfield, with completion scheduled for mid-2026.
Western Sydney Airport metro line: Extensive infrastructure and engineering
In total, 106.8 kilometres of rail line and more than 76,000 sleepers will be installed, including at the new stabling and maintenance facility in Orchard Hills. Each 20-metre section of rail steel is produced in South Australia, then transported to Newcastle and finally trucked to a purpose-built laydown yard in Luddenham South.
At the yard, the steel is welded into 120-metre-long “rail strings”, which are then moved to installation points along the route. A specialised rail threader machine places the rails onto the sleepers and secures them. The track is subsequently adjusted and aligned using a high-precision system, with a final concrete pour locking the components into place.
Integrated systems and station construction
The track alignment works also include the integration of key mechanical, electrical, communication and plumbing systems. These services will be delivered in parallel with the track works to streamline construction and commissioning processes.
Meanwhile, work is underway on the six new metro stations along the line. The design for each station has been finalised, with construction activity progressing across the entire alignment.
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