Ansaldo awarded $151m Roy Hill deal

Ansaldo STS Australia has won a $151 million rail signalling contract for Hancock Prospecting’s Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Under terms of the deal, Ansaldo will deliver the first two phases of a staged signalling and communications system for the Roy Hill mine’s 342 kilometre rail link to Port Hedland.

“The signalling technology involves centralised routing and automatic train protection with satellite positioning, and sets a new benchmark for global railway signalling systems,” Roy Hill spokesperson Darryl Hockey said.

"The communications solution offers major advantages in terms of increased logistical efficiency and safety for our project, and enables Roy Hill to integrate and upgrade to fully automated heavy haul operations if required in the future."

Ansaldo has been active in the Australian market since 1995, with its headquarters based in Brisbane.

Midway through last year Rio Tinto announced Ansaldo as its preferred contractor for railway signalling and communications at its Hope Downs 4 iron ore project, also in the Pilbara.

Ansaldo also announced last year it had won a $3.1 million railway signalling contract at Gindalbie Metals’ Karara iron ore mine, in the Mid West.