Australasia
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In depthTrack Technology: Going underground down under
Tracklaying is underway on 1 067 mm gauge cross-city rail links in Brisbane and Auckland, both of which are using resilient slab trackforms to minimise noise and vibration.
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News
C-Series EMU on test in Perth
AUSTRALIA: The first of the C-Series electric multiple-units which Alstom is supplying for the Perth suburban network has begun initial overnight testing on the Joondalup and Mandurah lines. The 1 067 mm gauge EMUs with a maximum speed of 130 km/h are expected to enter service from ...
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News
Qube loco order to boost Melbourne – Sydney service
AUSTRALIA: Import-export logistics specialist Qube has ordered 12 EMD GT46 diesel locomotives from Progress Rail for delivery from August 2023.
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In depth
Australia: Reshaping Brisbane’s rail connections
With construction of the Cross River Rail link well underway, Queensland’s state government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy for development of Brisbane’s regional rail network to accommodate projected population growth. Chris Jackson explores the proposals.
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Metro Report International
Parklife consortium picked to operate Sydney airport metro
AUSTRALIA: Project promoter Sydney Metro has let the third and final major works package for the Western Sydney Airport metro programme, covering Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations & Maintenance.
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In depth
Australia: Bankstown Line conversion takes shape
Work is forging ahead to convert a 13 km section of the Sydney Trains suburban network to form part of the city’s automated metro. Nick Kingsley asked Sydney Metro Project Director Hugh Lawson to explain.
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News
Aurizon agrees East Coast Rail sale
AUSTRALIA: Aurizon has signed a binding agreement to sell its East Coast Rail coal haulage business to Magnetic Rail Group. Completion is expected in early 2023. Aurizon undertook to divest ECR as part of regulatory approval for its acquisition of One Rail Australia. The takeover was ...
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Metro Report International
First Parramatta light rail vehicle delivered
AUSTRALIA: The first tram for the Parramatta light rail line which is currently under construction in western Sydney was delivered to Port Kembla on December 10. CAF is supplying 13 seven-section 45·4 m long light rail vehicles with a capacity of 425 passengers. The trams will ...
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News
First contract let covering Inland Rail civil works in Victoria
AUSTRALIA: Australian Rail Track Corp announced on October 31 that it had awarded a contract worth approximately A$200m for McConnell Dowell to start civil works on the first Inland Rail sites in Victoria.
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News
Australian National Rail Manufacturing Plan funded
AUSTRALIA: The 2022-23 federal budget includes A$14·2m over four years to establish a National Rail Manufacturing Plan ‘to ensure more trains are built in Australia, support skilled manufacturing and expand the local rail industry’. An Office of National Rail Industry Co-ordination will be formed within the ...
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Metro Report International
Apprentices needed to keep largest tram network moving
AUSTRALIA: Applications have opened for a four-year apprenticeship programme which Melbourne operator Yarra Trams uses to train people to manage and maintain the 500 km of overhead electrification on the world’s largest tram network. During the first two years, apprentices will work on de-energised infrastructure alongside ...
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Metro Report International
National public transport ticketing contract awarded
NEW ZEALAND: Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency has awarded Cubic Transportation Systems the National Ticketing Solution contract to supply an account-based ticketing platform for rail, bus and ferry services. Local transport authorities will decide on travel products and fares for their regions and control the ...
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News
Perth’s Airport Line rail link opens
AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has opened the 8·5 km Airport Line connecting Perth’s eastern suburbs with the central business district via the international airport.
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In depth
Smart Stations: Modular approach reshapes fit-out process
London’s Elizabeth Line and Brisbane’s Cross-River Rail Link are two major schemes where station design and fit-out is being influenced by trends towards modularity, repeatability and off-site production, as Julian Maynard of Maynard Design Group explains to Nick Kingsley.
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News
Melbourne Airport Rail contract preferred bidder selected
AUSTRALIA: The Sunshine Systems Alliance consortium has been selected as preferred bidder to undertake works around Sunshine and Albion stations as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail scheme.
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Metro Report International
Auckland light rail development contract awards
NEW ZEALAND: Contracts are being awarded for further planning and development of the proposed Auckland light rail project. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and Auckland Council have selected an alliance of Aurecon and Arup as preferred bidder for the next phase of planning and ...
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Rail Business UK
FirstClass opportunity to target the global market at InnoTrans
INNOTRANS: FirstClass Safety & Control is at InnoTrans for the first time as part of what director Mark Meyrick says is its strategy ‘to become the world leader in rail depot safety control systems’. The UK company was formed through a management buy-out of the control ...
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News
Investors acquire Australian rolling stock leasing company
AUSTRALIA: A 50:50 consortium of DIF Capital Partners and Amber Infrastructure Group has agreed to acquire locomotive and wagon leasing and maintenance company Rail First from Anchorage Capital Partners. The transaction announced on September 5 is expected to close by the end of October, subject to ...
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News
KiwiRail awards national traffic management system contract
NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail has awarded Alstom a ‘once-in-a-generation’ contract to deploy an integrated traffic management system for the national rail network. Replacing the existing traffic control technology with the ‘state-of-the-art’ Iconis integrated system will bring a ‘step-change in the way Kiwi Rail will operate its network’, ...
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News
Victoria orders more DMUs
AUSTRALIA: Victoria’s Department of Transport has exercised an option to purchase a further 12 three-car Alstom VLocity diesel multiple-units. These will be used on V/Line services on the 1 600 mm gauge routes from Melbourne to Shepparton and Warrnambool. The firm order announced by Alstom on ...
