Parramatta is poised for growth – set to transform into a cultural and creative hub over the next 25 years. With a fast-growing population and a wave of major businesses moving in, it’s clear the area is on the rise. But with all this development comes the need for better housing and smarter transport. Transport for NSW has promised to bring to life a metro line that will take Sydneysiders from the CBD to Parramatta in 20 minutes flat in the form of the Sydney Metro West – and the people of Parra are waiting.
In good news, there was tangible progress to celebrate earlier this week, with tunnel boring for the project now almost 90 per cent complete, and plans for the huge new metro station in the heart of "Sydney's second CBD" taking shape.
After 17 months of grinding through solid rock, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) Dorothy – named after human rights advocate Dorothy Buckland-Fuller – finally broke through at Parramatta. You might recall her journey hit a snag recently, with a six-week delay caused by concerns over the depth of foundations at a nearby Telstra building. Meanwhile, TBM Betty – named after Australia’s Olympic sprinting legend Betty Cuthbert – has already started her final leg to Westmead, having left Parramatta in mid-July. Operating 24/7, both machines have excavated an incredible 1.25 million tonnes of sandstone over seven kilometres between Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta.
Parramatta’s metro station site has been taking shape through a ‘cut-and-cover’ construction method – which involves digging a gigantic hole and building over the top of it later. This massive hole, measuring 196 metres long and 25 metres wide, has required extensive support beams due to the clay-rich soil near the Parramatta River. Yes, it’s quite different to the underground cavern excavation under the city streets for stations like Pyrmont and the CBD.
Here's what the CBD station on the Sydney Metro West line will look like
Located just north of the existing train station and within walking distance to the Light Rail, Eat Street, and the proposed Powerhouse Parramatta, the new metro station will reshape the heart of Parramatta. Beyond improved transport, the broader precinct will include new homes, offices, retail, dining, and entertainment offerings – something that this growing cultural and commercial hub needs.
The Sydney Metro West line is expected to open to passengers in 2032.
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