ADCO, UGL secure $257m Metronet work

The state government has awarded a $257 million contract to expand Metronet's railcar manufacturing facility to ADCO Constructions and UGL Engineering.

The expansion of the Bellevue railcar manufacturing facility has started with the contract awarded to EastRail, a joint venture between ADCO and UGL, the state government announced today.

The proposed second stage expansion includes new diesel maintenance facilities, maintenance facilities for existing B-series passenger trains, external train wash buildings, internal cleaning roads, stowage roads, and a specialised facility for wheel maintenance and restoration.

The diesel maintenance facilities will be constructed to support regional trains including the Prospector, Avonlink and Australind, the state government said.

More than 140 people are employed at the Metronet Bellevue railcar facility, according to the state government.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announced the contract award and Bellevue expansion plans during an update of the Metronet C-series train this morning.

The first C-series train, manufactured in WA, will start operating on the Mandurah and Joondalup train lines on April 8.

The 143-metre train is expected to accommodate more than 1,000 passengers.

Ms Saffioti said this was the first locally built and manufactured train to join the rail network in decades.

"It's been a really long journey to reach this point - from making the commitment in opposition, to delivering the new railcar manufacturing facility and now having the first train ready to take passengers,” she said.

“I am thrilled the wider community will now be able to share in this journey and jump on board the first train to be built and manufactured in WA in more than 30 years.

"When people step onboard the new C-series, it won't simply be a train journey from A to B, it will be a moment of pride in knowing the train has been built and manufactured by Western Australians for Western Australians."

The C-series trains are manufactured by French company Alstom, under a $2.5 billion contract to build and maintain 246 rail cars at Metronet's Bellevue facility.