The three packages comprise:
- Marrickville, Canterbury, Lakemba stations
- Dulwich Hill, Campsie, Punchbowl stations
- Hurlstone Park, Belmore, Wiley Park stations
The package for metro upgrades to Marrickville, Canterbury and Lakemba stations was awarded in December 2020 to the unincorporated joint venture comprising Haslin Constructions Pty Limited and Stephen Edwards Constructions Pty Ltd. The packages for Hurlstone Park, Belmore and Wiley Park stations, and Dulwich Hill, Campsie and Punchbowl stations, were awarded in February 2021 to Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd.
The upgrade works will include:
- upgrading and re-levelling existing platforms to provide level access to the new fully-air conditioned metro trains – no more step into the train for customers;
- new lifts at various stations to connect existing concourses to platform level;
- new family accessible toilets at stations;
- new service buildings and cabling for new rail systems;
- upgrades to stations like painting, improved lighting, tiling and paving;
- upgrades to security fencing at the stations; and
- improvements to interchanges including bike parking, taxi spaces, kiss and ride and accessible parking.
Once completed and then incorporated into the wider Sydney Metro network the stations will form part of the 66km Sydney Metro project, Australia's biggest public transport project. The upgraded T3 Bankstown Line is scheduled to commence metro operations in 2024. This will provide customers with a train every four minutes in each direction in the peak. Currently, some stations like Wiley Park and Canterbury only have four trains an hour.
A key challenge facing the station upgrade packages is the fact that the works are being conducted in a live brownfield rail environment. This represents particular challenges as the work has to be carried out while the existing Sydney Trains services continue. The contract structure had to consider the various challenges and interfaces that are relevant to this live rail environment.
Partner Harvey Weaver commented:
"We are delighted to have advised Sydney Metro on the Southwest Metro station upgrade works which will form part of the 66km Sydney Metro project, Australia's biggest public transport project. The Southwest Metro station upgrades will bring significant benefits to the community."
The Ashurst team was led by partner Harvey Weaver and comprised partner Krista Payne, consultant Matthew Stott, senior associates Laura Hillhouse, Andrew Higgins, Susannah Lace, Montana Linkio, and lawyers Emily Mo, Tom Darling, Cameron Griffiths, Samichhya Khadka, Lachlan Mack, Kylie Hope, Ferdous Bahar, Hamish Sutherland, and Philippa Lo.
