Sydney Metro Central Walk

In 2018, Laing O’Rourke was awarded a $955 million contract to transform Sydney’s Central Station, delivering new Sydney Metro platforms beneath the station and an extensive pedestrian concourse, known as Central Walk. The project was completed in 2023 ahead of metro services starting in 2024.

Penetron Australia is proud to have played a vital contribution to the construction of this milestone infrastructure project. With partners Laing O’Rourke and Holcim, we were involved from the outset, detailing the capping beam with Penetron products.

The opening of this 80-metre-long concourse was one of the major Sydney Metro upgrades to Australia’s busiest railway station.

Our products contributed to the successful delivery of the following:

Engineering marvel Central Walk, a new 80-metre-long by 19-metre-wide underground pedestrian concourse connecting all areas of the station and enabling easy interchange between modes of transport, including trains, buses, light rail, and in 2024, metro services.

Significant accessibility upgrades as a result of the installation of 14 new lifts and 42 new escalators, including escalator access to suburban rail platforms 12 to 23 for the first time in the station’s history. 

Penetron Admix was used in complex high-spec concrete mixes throughout the project. Allowing the design team to benefit from Penetron’s unique crystalline technology in high-strength, high-slump mixes. Penetron Admix doesn’t require specific W/C or cement content to perform. And has no incompatibility issues with workability admixtures, such as superplasticizers, retarders, etc.

On the successful delivery, Laing O’Rourke says:

“The team maintained their focus on delivering the project in the most sustainable way. In May 2021, the project achieved a 6 Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, representing World Leadership in sustainable building design. Through this process, several outcomes were recognised, including: a 90% reduction in potable water consumption; implementation of a Climate Adaptation Plan; and a 123% total cumulative saving across 13 Life Cycle Environmental indicators (such as climate change and ozone layer depletion) associated with materials selection and operational energy efficiency, compared to a reference project.”