Australia railway news
News about railway and urban rail infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in Australia.
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NewsMelbourne Metro Tunnel opens with a celebration and free travel
AUSTRALIA: Limited revenue services started through Melbourne’s 9 km Metro Tunnel with a ceremony on November 30, attended by Premier of the Sate of Victoria Jacinta Allan and state Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams.
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NewsBritish Steel wins Turkish and Australian export orders
INTERNATIONAL: British Steel has won orders to export rail from its Scunthorpe steelworks to Turkey and steel sleepers to Australia.
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In depthAustralia: Untangling Sydney’s complex suburban network
Sydney Trains is managing a long-term fleet renewal programme while deploying ETCS and reshaping its network to complement the expansion of the city’s metro. Chief Executive Matt Longland outlines to Benjámin Zelki how these competing priorities are being delivered.
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NewsItalian company to acquire Australian railway contractor
AUSTRALIA: Italian railway construction company Salcef has agreed to acquire Pilbara Rail Maintenance.
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In depthAustralia: Melbourne’s Suburban Loop reaches lift-off
Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop is ultimately expected to add 90 km of 1 435 mm gauge automated rail service to the city’s rail mix, but project promoter SRLA is currently focusing on delivering the first 26 km section. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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NewsDiesel locomotive battery tender to be tested in Western Australia
AUSTRALIA: Freight operator Aurizon is to trial the use of a Battery Electric Tender intended to reduce emissions from heavy haul rail operations.
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NewsBHP battery locos delivered to the Pilbara
AUSTRALIA: Mining company BHP has taken delivery of its first purpose-built battery-electric heavy haul locomotives for trials between its Pilbara iron ore mines and Port Hedland.
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In depthAustralia: Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel poised to reshape city connectivity
The opening of Melbourne’s cross-city tunnel for revenue operation paves the way for a network-wide timetable change in February, which will reshape the Sunbury – Cranbourne/Pakenham axis and release capacity for additional services on other suburban lines. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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NewsMelbourne’s first G Class tram arrives at purpose-built depot
AUSTRALIA: Victoria’s Minister for Public & Active Transport Gabrielle Williams has officially opened the depot in Melbourne where Alstom will maintain 100 G Class trams which it is supplying for the world’s largest tram network.
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NewsPerth’s modernised Armadale Line extended to Byford
AUSTRALIA: Celebrations marked the reopening of the full length of Perth’s Armadale Line following an extensive modernisation and the extension of Transperth suburban services to the fast-growing residential area of Byford.
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NewsInter-city fleet renewal in New South Wales makes progress
AUSTRALIA: Sydney Trains has completed deployment of 610 Mariyung double-deck EMUs on North Coast inter-city services, with Blue Mountains and South Coast lines scheduled for rollout through 2025.
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NewsMelbourne Suburban Loop rail systems preferred bidder confirmed
AUSTRALIA: Detailed negotiations are under way with preferred bidder TransitLinX consortium for the Linewide contract package covering rolling stock, fit out and 15-year operations of Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop East.
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NewsAustralian university launches industry-supported rail engineering courses
AUSTRALIA: Edith Cowan University has launched dedicated rail-based units across its Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering undergraduate programmes, developed in partnership with the Australian Railway Association to help meet the sector’s future needs.
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NewsWorld Tram Driver Championship to join Melbourne’s sporting highlights
AUSTRALIA: Melbourne has been selected to host the 2027 World Tramdriver Championship, which the Victoria state government said builds on its reputation as a leading destination for international sporting events.
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NewsState government takes over Adelaide tram operations
AUSTRALIA: Responsibility for the operation of Adelaide’s trams returned to the government of South Australia at 03.00 on August 31, ending the privatisation put in place by the previous government.
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NewsNext Melbourne train operating contract is ‘an opportunity to raise the bar’
AUSTRALIA: Expressions of interest in the next contract to operate passenger rail services around Melbourne are to be invited from mid-September, with the state government calling for ‘the most experienced transport operators from around the world’ to bid.
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NewsGold Coast light rail Stage 4 cancelled
AUSTRALIA: The Queensland government has cancelled Stage 4 of the Gold Coast Light Rail programme, and will instead look to bus provision as well as studying wider transport needs for the region.
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NewsProductivity, resilience, decarbonisation and data priorities for Australian freight
AUSTRALIA: The government has ’refreshed’ its National Freight & Supply Chain Strategy to take into account the impact of Covid-19, geopolitical shifts, extreme weather events and worker shortages.
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NewsAustralia to adopt ETCS for interoperable rail network
AUSTRALIA: National, state and territory transport ministers have backed the adoption of ETCS for national interoperability, as well as plans to streamline rolling stock approvals and enable the Rail Industry Safety & Standards Board to lead the setting of technical standards.
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Metro Report InternationalKeolis to buy Downer stake in Australian public transport joint venture
AUSTRALIA: Keolis Group has signed an agreement to buy Downer’s 49% stake in the Keolis Downer public transport operating joint venture, which will be rebranded as Keolis.