NEWS
ARTC SIGNS $2.4B IN CONTRACTS FOR CRITICAL INLAND RAIL SECTIONS The Inland Rail project has achieved a new milestone with the award of two major civil works contracts for critical sections of tracks in New South Wales and southern Queensland. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has signed a collaborative framework agreement (CFA) with the ACACPB Joint Venture, a 50-50 joint venture formed by CPB Contractors and Acciona Construction Australia, for the planning and development of civil works between Narrabri and Narromine in northern New South Wales. The civil works involved include approximately 306 kilometres of new track formation comprising bulk earthworks, drainage, bridge/viaduct structures, materials and logistics management. Subject to planning and environmental approvals, ARTC anticipate that construction activities on this works package will commence late 2022, worth approximately $1.2 billion. Separately, ARTC has also signed a
collaborative framework with Freight Connect – a consortium led by Laing O’Rourke and including FKG Group – for approximately 100 kilometres of civil works from Narrabri through to North Star and across the border to Whetstone in Queensland. The section will focus on approximately 85 kilometres of existing rail corridor between North Star in New South Wales and Whetstone in Queensland as well as a separate 14 kilometre of new rail corridor south of Moree called Narrabri to North Star Phase 2. Subject to planning and environmental approvals, ARTC anticipate that construction activities on this works package will commence mid 2022, worth approximately $1.2 billion. ARTC Inland Rail Interim Chief Executive Rebecca Pickering said the announcement was the culmination of months of work by ARTC. “We’ve already committed 641 contracts
The ARTC has awarded two major civil works contracts for critical sections of Inland Rail.
to businesses in Queensland and 657 in NSW worth more than $1.95 billion across the two states, and this agreement will create even more economic stimulus as the country recovers from the impacts of the pandemic,” she said. Inland Rail will upgrade 1,100 kilometres of existing rail line and build 600 kilometres of new track to connect missing links between Melbourne and Brisbane. The Australian Government is investing up to $14.5 billion in equity for ARTC to build Inland Rail.
PORT OF MELBOURNE BEGINS WORK ON RAIL TRANSFORMATION PROJECT Port of Melbourne has awarded a construction contract to Seymour Whyte Constructions to move ahead with its Port Rail Transformation Project (PRTP). With the implementation of the PRTP, more containers will be able to be moved by rail more efficiently and will increase the overall rail terminal capacity and operations at the port. As part of the project, a new rail terminal interfacing with the Swanson Dock East International Container Terminal will need to be developed and constructed. The $125 million on-dock rail plan is part of the state government’s plan to improve the port’s efficiency by allowing more containers moved by rail, by-passing roads in inner Melbourne. In addition to increase existing terminal capacity, it includes a new rail terminal construction. “Port volumes continue to grow. We are responding to that growth by developing
innovative and sustainable solutions to improve rail usage at the port, and also the added benefit of increased connectivity for a more efficient and effective port supply chain,” said Brendan Bourke, Chief Executive Officer at the Port of Melbourne. “This is an exciting and much-needed project to facilitate more freight on rail. The increased rail offering will reduce the number of trucks on the road, especially around the inner western suburbs, and will support the metropolitan port rail shuttle network.” Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest
container and general cargo port, handling more than one-third of the nation’s container trade. Each year, the port contributes approximately $6 billion to the Victorian economy. The port’s new rail infrastructure will include a new Coode Road rail terminal, a new road to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of containers, a new track linking the Swanson and Appleton lead tracks and upgrades to the Swanson lead track. Construction work is expected from October 2021 until 2023.
Seymour Whyte has been engaged by Port of Melbourne to develop new rail infrastructure. roadsonline.com.au
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