North West Rail Link

North West Rail Link is a project by the Government of New South Wales for a heavy rail rapid transit link to the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. It connects Rouse Hill to Epping via Castle Hill. The project was managed by Transport for New South Wales and formed part of Sydney's rapid transit network. In June 2013 it was announced that a joint venture between Thiess (50%) John Holland (25%) and Dragados (25%) (TJHD JV) had been selected by the New South Wales Government to construct the tunnels and excavate new underground stations for Sydney's visionary North West Rail Link.

Under the $1.15 billion Tunnel and Station Civil Works contract, TJHDJV constructed twin 15 kilometre tunnels which run between Bella Vista and Epping. These are the longest rail tunnels ever built in Australia. The project also included civil works for five of the eight new stations and two service facilities. Four custom-made Tunnel Boring Machines were used to construct the 6 metre diameter tunnels with the first of the TBMs in the ground within the end of second year.

Stations are located at Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Showground, Norwest, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Rouse Hill and Cudgegong Road. Also planned were 4,000 commuter car parking spaces. Driverless trains will be operated on the line when it opens.

In November 2013, Kenny Constructions was awarded the contract to form the large precast facility at Bella Vista. With casting of the >30,000 precast segments scheduled to commence in April 2014, the works formed a critical path of the overall project.

Scope of Works

• Detailed earthworks
• Reinforcement, formwork and concrete placement for 100 pile-caps
• FRP of 88 metres of 6 metre high reinforced concrete walls
• More than 10,000 sqm of reinforced concrete slabs
• 3,000 linear metres of ground beam which will support the gantry cranes.