Australasia – Page 15
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NewsIndustry calls for improvements to Australian rail tendering processes
AUSTRALIA: The Australasian Railway Association has made 21 recommendations for simplifying and reducing the cost and time required to tender rolling stock and signalling contracts. ‘Australian tendering costs are higher than global benchmarks and that makes it harder to get projects out of the planning phase into ...
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NewsAustralian industry group will prepare for Advanced Train Management System roll-out
AUSTRALIA: A cross-industry oversight group is being established to assist with the introduction of the Advanced Train Management System on the 1 435 mm gauge interstate freight rail network, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development Michael McCormack announced on May 11.
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NewsNSW tenders faster rail studies
AUSTRALIA: The New South Wales state government has called tenders for studies and project management to support the development of business cases for faster rail services on the routes from Sydney to Canberra and Sydney to Newcastle.
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NewsCampbell to head ARTC as Fullerton steps down
AUSTRALIA: Mark Campbell has been appointed as Managing Director & CEO of Australian Rail Track Corp with effect from May 1, succeeding John Fullerton, who is stepping down after more than 40 years in the rail industry and nine years leading the interstate infrastructure manager.
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NewsCoronavirus leads to new ways of working at KiwiRail
NEW ZEALAND: ‘As an essential service, we’ve had to learn a whole new way of working’, said KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller, announcing details of changes made by the national railway to reflect the impact of Covid-19. ‘We have provided additional PPE to our teams in ...
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NewsUIC shares ways to restore confidence in rail travel
COVID-19: The International Union of Railways has published a summary of potential steps that could be adopted to increase customer confidence in rail transport following the coronavirus pandemic.
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NewsCarmichael civil works contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: Adani Mining has awarded Martinus Rail a A$220m contract for civil engineering work on the 1 067 mm gauge rail link to its controversial Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.
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NewsAustralian railway radio contract stopped by US trade restrictions
AUSTRALIA: Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority has dropped plans for the HUGL consortium of Huawei Australia and UGL to undertake its Radio Systems Replacement project, saying trade restrictions imposed on Huawei by the US government had created a force majeure event under the contract which the parties ...
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Metro Report InternationalBayswater rebuilding contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: The government of Western Australia has awarded the Coleman Rail-led Evolve Bayswater Alliance a A$253m contract for the reconstruction of Bayswater station on the Perth suburban network.
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Metro Report InternationalNSW tenders Sydney Metro West tunnelling
AUSTRALIA: Tendering for the construction of the 24 km Sydney Metro West driverless metro line between the city centre and Parramata was formally launched by New South Wales Transport Minister on Andrew Constance on April 7.
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Metro Report InternationalSydney light rail Kingsford branch opens
AUSTRALIA: The 3·2 km five-stop light rail branch from Moore Park via Anzac Parade south to Juniors Kingsford was opened for revenue service on April 3, completing Sydney’s CBD & South East LRT network.
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NewsCoronavirus pushes switch from cash to card payment
NEW ZEALAND: Cash sales of tickets on the Metlink transport network in Greater Wellington will end on March 23, in a move which Metlink said was designed ‘to stay one step ahead of Covid-19 and give our passengers and staff more peace of mind’. On the rail ...
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Metro Report InternationalUGL and John Holland to operate Adelaide trams
AUSTRALIA: The Torrens Connect joint venture of local bus operator Torrens Transit, UGL Rail Services and John Holland has been selected to operate light rail services in Adelaide, under a contract announced by the South Australian Public Transport Authority on March 10. The deal forms part of ...
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Metro Report InternationalSydney Metro West project management consultant appointed
AUSTRALIA: Turner & Townsend was appointed to provide project management services for the A$6·4bn Sydney Metro West project on March 5. The contract includes capital, operating and maintenance cost planning as well as risk and schedule management for the 24 km of twin underground tunnels between Westmead ...
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Metro Report InternationalCanberra to study more light rail extensions
AUSTRALIA: Studies are to be commissioned for two more extensions of the Canberra light rail network, according to ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel. Speaking at the Australasian Railway Association’s light rail conference in the capital on March 4, Steel confirmed that the prefeasibility studies for Stages 3 ...
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NewsMining company plans to use Port Augusta terminal
AUSTRALIA: Havilah Resources which controls three iron ore deposits in South Australia has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for future use of port, rail and transhipment facilities at the Playford site near Port Augusta which has been leased by Port Augusta Operations. ‘Port Augusta Operations’ proposed ...
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Metro Report InternationalFast-charge battery development funded
AUSTRALIA: The development of fast-charge lithium-ion batteries to power catenary-free trams is among the projects which have been awarded A$11m of government funding under a programme to develop the national minerals sector. The A$5m tram battery project brings together the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, University ...
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NewsAustralind DMU design revealed
AUSTRALIA: The design of the diesel multiple-units ordered for Transwa’s twice-daily Australind service has been unveiled by Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan. ‘The sleek new design will make the journey between Perth and Bunbury more comfortable for residents and tourists alike, encouraging more people to ...
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NewsNew Zealand government announces investment in commuter capacity and freight
NEW ZEALAND: Rail has been allocated a NZ$1·1bn share of a NZ$6·8bn package of transport infrastructure funding announced by the government on January 29. Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the rail investment was targeted at getting lorries off the roads and improving passenger services, particularly at busy ...
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NewsARTC shortlists Port Botany contractors
AUSTRALIA: Five civil engineering groups have been shortlisted by Australian Rail Track Corp to undertake improvements to the freight lines serving the busy Port Botany south of Sydney. The government has committed A$400m to improving rail capacity in order to meet a projected 77% increase in the ...