Hunter Street breakthrough as Sydney Metro West tunnelling complete

Sydney Metro West tunnelling complete — that’s the milestone now reached. A tunnel boring machine (TBM) drove through the final metre of rock and entered the future Hunter Street Station site, as outlined by NSW Government.

Sydney Metro West tunnelling complete: What the breakthrough marks

Also, the Hunter Street breakthrough signals that all tunnelling is now finished across four Sydney Metro projects: North West, City, Western Sydney Airport and West. The wider tunnelling effort began in 2014 between Epping and Bella Vista. In addition, 14.7 million tonnes of rock was excavated across the four lines.

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In total, 19 TBMs have created 128 kilometres of metro tunnel under Sydney, extending to multiple points west. For Sydney Metro West, tunnelling ran 24/7 for two years and ten months. It delivered the twin tunnels on the 24-kilometre line, as described by Sydney Metro.

Hunter Street station TBM breakthrough and the next construction steps

The first TBM reached Hunter Street in December 2025. Meanwhile, with tunnelling complete, crews are moving into the tunnel fit-out phase. Track laying is set to commence by the end of this year.

At the same time, teams at the Hunter Street site are preparing to dismantle the TBMs. They will bring them up from 27 metres below ground in 16 large pieces. The components will then be moved through the city centre. The transport is planned for the middle of the night to help minimise disruption.

Sydney Metro West opening date target 2032 and city connections

At Hunter Street, the Sydney Metro West line is set to connect to the current city line at Martin Place in a busy underground hub. Still, the project’s overall timeline and budget remain as set out: it is targeting an opening date of 2032, backed by a total investment of $27–$29 billion, as reported by Rail Express.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the end of tunnelling is a “huge moment” for delivering the city-shaping project. “Metro West will transform Sydney by joining our two biggest CBDs via a 20-minute train ride,” he said.

Minister for Transport John Graham thanked the 23,000 workers who worked underground to bring the tunnelling program to a safe conclusion. “This has been another world-class tunnelling job by a highly-skilled workforce,” he said. “Their work has been seen by few but will be appreciated by many. “These twin tunnels will provide a quantum leap in how our public transport system connects people to the places they need to access as the city’s west continues to grow in population and economic importance.”

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