Contracts and projects around Australia

NATIONAL Aldridge Railway Signals

Kyosan, the developer of the world’s fi rst automated platform gap fi llers, has teamed up with Aldridge.

Established in 1917, Kyosan is a leading Japanese manufacturer of signal systems and developed the world’s fi rst gap fi llers in 2004, of which more than 200 are now installed on the Tokyo Subway. Platform gap fi llers of course are usually integrated with platform screen doors, which have evolved considerably since the fi rst patent was granted in 1908 in Boston USA for a “safety fence and gate for railway-platforms”. In 2000 Kyosan developed the “Partial Height Platform Screen Door”, primarily for use on Japan’s metro systems and then in 2016 these were further enhanced with transparent panels.

In addition to manufacturing mechanical gap fi llers, platform screens and platform screen doors, Kyosan also produces railway signalling systems including automatic train control, interlocking signal controls, level crossing mechanisms and control systems and points machines.

NSW Sydney Metro West

There’s been plenty of movement on the Sydney Metro West project.

The New South Wales Government has shortlisted three consortia to deliver the Eastern Tunnelling package, which includes 3.5 kilometres of twin tunnels under Sydney Harbour between The Bays and the Sydney CBD. They are Acciona Construction Australia and Ferrovial Construction joint venture (AF JV); Bouygues Construction Australia, Vinci Construction Grands Projets Australia and Soletanche Bachy International joint venture (BV JV); and John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella joint venture (JCG JV). The 24-kilometre new underground rail connection between the CBDs of Parramatta and Sydney will double rail capacity between the two CBDs, connecting the stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfi eld, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.

Due to the scale of this city-shaping mega project, the tunnelling and excavation works have been separated into geographicallyspecifi c contract packages between Westmead and the Sydney CBD.

Acciona Ferrovial JV was awarded the 11-kilometre Central Tunnelling Package between Sydney Olympic Park to The Bays Precinct in 2020.

Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, with a target travel time of about 20 minutes between the two centres.

The ETP contract is expected to be awarded by the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, a consortium between Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke has been appointed to deliver the $2.16 billion Western Tunnelling Package (WTP) for the project.

The project scope includes: • Twin 9km tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead; • A Tunnel Boring Machine launch site at Rosehill, tunnelling fi rst toward Sydney

Olympic Park and relaunched from Rosehill toward Westmead; • Excavation for a services facility and crossover structure at Rosehill to allow provision for fresh air ventilation and emergency egress; • Tunnel portal and dive excavation at Clyde

Services and Maintenance Facility; • Earthworks, retaining structures, drainage and utilities corridor for the Clyde

Maintenance Facility; • Excavation and civil works for Parramatta and Westmead Stations; and • A segment manufacturing facility at Eastern Creek constructing over 60,000 segments.

Gamuda brings decades of international experience in metro rail construction and engineering innovation which will be harnessed during delivery of WTP.

Early works will commence on the WTP within weeks, with tunnelling scheduled to start late 2023. And fi nally, a major contract has been awarded as part of the new Sydney Metro–Western Sydney Airport line. The $538.5 million contract to deliver approximately 10.4 kilometres of surface and civil alignment works has been awarded to CPB Contractors and United Infrastructure.

This latest contract includes: • 3.5km of elevated viaduct at Orchard Hills

and Luddenham. • 6.7km of earthworks for track formation. • A 190m long rail bridge over the new M12 motorway. • A 20m long rail bridge within the airport. • Temporary and permanent access roads. • Bulk earthworks for the stabling and maintenance facility site. The driverless 23-kilometre metro line will link St Marys to the centre of the new Aerotropolis at Bradfi eld via the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. Six stations will also be built along the alignment.

NEW ZEALAND Auckland Transport

CAF (Compañía Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) has signed a contract for the supply of 23 new electric units for Auckland in New Zealand. The contract, worth in excess of €130M, includes the maintenance of the trains until the end of 2025 and has an extension option for up to 5 additional units. In 2011, Auckland Transport awarded CAF the supply of 57 electric units and their maintenance for 12 years and in 2017 a further 15 units were purchased. All 72 supplied units are currently in revenue service in Auckland. CAF’s reliable fl eet has completed a mileage in excess of 33 million kilometres and has played an essential role in the increase in passenger numbers using public transport across Auckland. The units will be similar to the 72 previously supplied to the same customer, consisting of three cars, two cabbed end motor cars and one intermediate trailer car, with a total capacity for 380 passengers.

The car structure is made of stainless steel and each car is equipped with two passenger access doors per side. Also, the intermediate car is low fl oor to facilitate access for persons with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. This contract consolidates CAF’s presence in the region as in addition to the previous contracts for Auckland Transport: the company has been awarded a signifi cant amount of projects in Australia since incorporating its subsidiary there in 2010, including the most recent ones of Parramatta Light Rail and Regional Rail Bi-Mode units in New South Wales.