The delicate retrieval of a 1100-tonne machine from beneath Sydney’s busiest streets
A 1100-tonne tunnel boring machine named "Jessie" has completed its work beneath Sydney's central business district and is being carefully disassembled for removal. The machine, which excavated 230,000 tonnes of material over 2.3 kilometres, played a key role in constructing the Metro West rail line's largest underground station. Jessie's components will be lifted to the surface, transported to Newcastle, and shipped to China for recycling or reuse.
- ▪Jessie, a 1100-tonne tunnel boring machine, completed a 2.3-kilometre tunnel under Sydney Harbour from The Bays to Hunter Street.
- ▪The machine excavated 230,000 tonnes of material and made its final breakthrough in early March 2026.
- ▪Jessie is being disassembled into 16 pieces and will be transported to Newcastle before being shipped to China for recycling or return to the manufacturer.
- ▪The Hunter Street station, built within Australia’s largest underground rail cavern, will be the busiest metro station in Sydney when it opens in 2032.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.