Three major construction contracts worth more than $1.6 billion have been awarded for the Regional Rail Link project, Australia’s larges public transport infrastructure project.

 

The successful bidders are:

  • Thiess, Balfour Beatty, Parsons Brinckerhoff and SKM, the consortium tasked with laying 7.5 kilometres of new track between Footscray and Deer Park as well as building a new station at West Footscray and upgrading the existing stations at Footscray, Sunshine and Tottenham. Work is expected to start in early 2012.
  • Baulderstone/ Leighton Joint Venture which will lay 25 kilometres of new track between Deer Park and West Werribee as well as build new stations at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit. Work is expected to start in mid-2012.
  • UGL and Manidis Roberts, the consortium which from mid-2012 will install the fibre optics network that will support the train control systems, the signals along the corridor and provide information to the passengers waiting at the new and upgraded stations.

 

The Regional Rail Link project is being built with funding from both the federal and Victorian governments, with the former contributing $3.2 billion. It is expected to be completed in early 2016,

 

Delivery of the Regional Rail Link project will involve a total of six major packages of work, with the remaining two contracts – Southern Cross Station to Footscray and at West Werribee Junction – expected to be awarded next year.

 

The contract for track and civil works from Southern Cross Station to Moonee Ponds Creek was awarded last year to Activate, a joint venture between John Holland and Coleman Rail.

 

More information on the project can be found at www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au