The first Sydney Metro Northwest tunnel boring machine has reached the end of the line – breaking through for the final time at Epping today.

Tunnel Boring Machine 3 Isabelle completed her journey from Cherrybrook after digging almost 6km of Australia’s longest railway tunnels, and will soon be dismantled.

The TBM is one of four mega tunnelling machines delivering the 15km twin tunnels from Bella Vista to Epping.

“Sydney Metro Northwest is setting a cracking pace, this is a major milestone considering tunnelling only started a year ago and this particular tunnel boring machine only started work late last year,” Mr Constance said.

“During her journey, Isabelle dug the deepest section of the new railway tunnels, 58m below Thompson’s Corner at West Pennant Hills.

“She’s been busy digging underground for 10 months, and today Isabelle finally saw daylight again.

“More than 75 per cent of tunnelling is now complete – that’s 22km down, 8km to go.”

During her journey, TBM3 Isabelle:

• Excavated more than 515,000 tonnes of crushed rock, both sandstone and shale;
• Installed more than 20,000 concrete segments to line the new rail tunnel ;
• Had 650 hardened steel cutters on her cutter head replaced;
• Was home to tunnelling crews of 15 workers who have spent more than 90,000 hours underground since launching from Cherrybrook on 3 November 2014;
• Tunnelled 80m in one day alone, on June 30.

The Epping Services Facility will be used for fresh air tunnel ventilation and as an emergency access point to the tunnels below once Sydney’s new trains start running in the first half of 2019.

Download the vision via this link: http://picturepark.databasics.com.au/Go/Zg37O3nd