Laing O’Rourke lands £540m deal to carry out Sydney station upgrade

Laing O’Rourke has been awarded the contract to transform Australia’s busiest station as part of work for the Sydney Metro. 

The UK construction firm will deliver the Syndey Central upgrade alongside Woods Bagot and its partner John McAslan + Partners, and designers GHD and Aurecon. It will see contractors digging deep to make it the downtown gateway to the new multi-billion-dollar Sydney Metro City and Southwest network.

Work on the new project will begin immediately in-line with the new Sydney Metro project, forcing the closure of two of its busiest platforms - 13 and 14, with 15 already closed. Work will include new underground platforms and a 19-metre wide underground concourse, which will connect Chalmers Street to the new Sydney Metro platforms being built beneath.

The new access points and additional walkways are supposed to make it easier to transfer between services for the estimated 250,000 daily commuters. 

Laing O’Rourke managing director Cathal O’Rourke was at the station for the announcement and says the firm’s recent experience of delivering the $100 million upgrade of Wynyard Station have provided useful construction techniques and knowledge that will bode well for Sydney.  

O’Rourke added: “We have a strong track record in complex transport precincts around the world and with this experience we have assembled a team who will deliver a world-class result for the NSW government, the people of Sydney and the businesses and customers who rely on Central every day. The station needs to be kept running, and its history and heritage protected, as we also upgrade it to the modern transport solution Metro offers.”

Work is due to be completed by 2022 and a new feature roof to the northern concourse will be one of the major elements of the project in an attempt to transform the space and emphasise the historic features of the Central Electric Building.

Commenting on the deal, Australia's transport minister Andrew Constance, said: “This is the start of Central’s long-awaited renewal, bringing new entrances and simpler interchanges that will make life so much easier for customers. Central Station is the gateway to our great city, and we are working to develop a station that blends heritage with innovative design on par with other grand stations around the world.”