John Holland wins $32m rail deal

The $32 million contract for construction of the first three stations on the Southern Suburbs Railway line has been awarded to John Holland Pty Ltd.

The contract is for the construction of the Canning Bridge, Bull Creek and Murdoch commuter railway stations, expected to be operational in 2006.

The three stations are the first of nine for the $1.5 billion New MetroRail project to run between the Narrows Bridge and Mandurah.

Work on the new stations will start in May next year after John Holland takes possession of the sites. Preparatory earthworks at Murdoch and Bull Creek have already begun.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said John Holland was one of the key partners in delivering a world-class public transport system.

“John Holland successfully built the new Clarkson Station for the Northern Suburbs Railway extension and is the lead contractor in the RailLink Joint Venture, which earlier this year won the contract to build the Southern Suburbs Railway to Mandurah,” she said.

The contracts to build the remaining six stations on the southern line would be awarded in the first half of next year, Ms MacTiernan said.

Up to 8,000 passengers a day are expected to use the new line, with the Murdoch and Bull Creek stations to be major transit interchanges with feeder bus services, car drop off and pick-up facilities, pedestrian and bicycle access, and parking for more than 1,500 cars.

The Canning Bridge station will be located on the site of the existing bus interchange and is the only station where long-term parking cannot be provided.

Riverton MLA Tony McRae said: “The railway will open up new travel choices for local residents.  With peak period trains every five minutes, I expect the new railway will be popular with local commuters.”