Major milestone in Metro West as bridge between Orchard Hills and Luddenham complete

A major milestone in construction of the Metro West rail line – which will connect the new airport to the rest of Sydney – has been heralded as a major step forward in planning for the fledgling aerotropolis.

The completion of a major new bridge which will carry driverless Metro trains in the city’s west has been heralded as a major step-forward by the Minns Government in the flailing aerotropolis.

The NSW Government will on Monday announce construction has been completed of a one-kilometre viaduct – a bridge over a hollow or a valley – between the Orchard Hills and Luddenham stations on the Western Sydney Airport (WSA) Metro line.

The bridge includes 36 piers and 308 concrete segments and will form part of the 9.8 kilometre, $11 billion Metro line which will link St Mary’s train station to the new western Sydney airport in 2026.

Work has finisged on the viaduct at Luddenham, which was built as part of the multibillion-dollar Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport railway line project. Picture: Supplied

The announcement comes amid growing criticism of the progress of the aerotropolis, the 11,200 hectare precinct surrounding the airport and heralded as a jobs and housing hub.

The Daily Telegraph last week revealed that Sydney Metro boss Peter Regan had privately flagged concerns a lack of construction around the new western Sydney airport Metro would undermine the billions of dollars of funding poured into it.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, hopes the progress will be a move in the right direction for aerotropolis planning. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The go-slow on construction within the aerotropolis has also been blamed for major multinational businesses, such as Amazon, pulling out from basing their companies in the precinct.

Premier Chris Minns flagged the new Metro line will be a major driver of investment into the flailing aerotropolis, saying: “This project represents a massive opportunity for NSW, driving billions of dollars’ worth of investment and thousands of new jobs in this growing region of Western Sydney”.

Work continues on the viaduct at Luddenham as part of the Metro West. The 23-kilometre new railway will link residential areas with the new Aerotropolis and connect travellers from the new airport to the rest of Sydney.

“Since being elected the NSW Government has worked tirelessly to cut red tape to drive development while charging ahead with the construction of Australia’s largest public transport project,” he said.

Major civil infrastructure necessary for the construction of the project includes a 3.5 kilometre section of elevated viaduct between Orchard Hills and Luddenham. Picture: Supplied

The WSA Metro will connect to the existing heavy rail train station at St Marys with a driverless Metro train which will travel through the airport precinct before terminating at the aerotropolis train stop.

Travellers from the eastern suburbs can reach the airport by getting on the existing heavy rail line linking Central to St Mary’s, where they’ll then have to transfer onto the Metro line.

A render of the Aerotropolis. Picture: Supplied

The WSA line has previously been criticised by transport luminaries including businessman Tony Shepherd, who has worked on projects like the Sydney Harbour and Lane Cove tunnels, who said “you need to link (the western Sydney airport) with the city”.

At The Daily Telegraph’s 2023 Bradfield Summit, he implored the state government to extend the Metro West beyond its Westmead termination to link directly with the airport.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the existing plans for the WSA Metro would result in major investment flooding in to the aerotropolis.

“People will be able to step off a plane and onto a train as soon as the airport opens its doors,” she said.

“When complete, Luddenham Station will deliver a rail service to the future research, innovation and commercial precinct in Luddenham and provide world-class travel for people in an area with limited public transport options.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]