The NSW Government today announced Australia’s biggest ever purchase of lifts and escalators as part of an $87 million contract awarded by Sydney Metro – Australia’s biggest public transport project.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the massive purchase is essential to deliver a world-class fully-accessible metro railway for Sydney.
"We’re building this unprecedented project mostly deep underground, and we need this infrastructure to get customers to these fully-accessible stations," Mr Constance.
"This is the biggest one-off investment in improving accessibility in the history of public transport in this country – a combined 200 lifts and escalators."
"As part of our plan to improve transport, the NSW Government is giving people more choice in how they get around Sydney as we deliver a fast, easy and reliable metro railway."
"Sydney Metro means a fully accessible railway for people in wheelchairs, parents with prams and those who are less able. There are lifts at all stations, level access between platforms and trains and no more steps into trains."
Thyssenkrupp will design, supply, install and maintain about 70 lifts and 130 escalators for the extension of Sydney Metro from Chatswood into the city and beyond to the south west under a framework contract. This means:
- New lifts and escalators for the six new metro railway stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo;
- Lifts and escalators to provide direct access to Central Walk from the underground Central Station metro platforms; and
- New escalators from the new underground Central Walk concourse to platforms 12-23 at Central Station.
The upgrade of the Bankstown line to metro standards means all 11 stations between Sydenham and Bankstown will have lifts – including Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park and Dulwich Hill, which currently do not.
Sydney Metro is Australia’s first fully automated railway, which will feature the country’s first platform screen doors. These will keep people and objects away from the tracks and allow trains to get in and out of stations much faster.
Each metro train has two wheelchair spaces per carriage, as well as dedicated priority seating for those less able. Each train also has two multi-purpose areas for prams, luggage and bicycles.
Mr Constance today inspected ongoing works at the new Barangaroo metro station site.
Work has included protecting the heritage cliff wall along Hickson Road’s Hungry Mile.
Following engineering advice, the wall was successfully secured with about 200 rock bolts to help protect it during excavation of the station area underneath and ensure the safety of the community.
Sydney Metro opens in the city’s north-west in the second quarter of 2019. It will be extended from Chatswood, under Sydney Harbour, into the city and beyond to Bankstown in 2024 – when Sydney will have 31 metro stations and 66km of new metro rail.
