Work starts on $1.9bn Forrestfield rail link project

The joint venture that has today started construction of the state government’s $1.96 billion Forrestfield-Airport Rail Link project has also submitted a proposal for the third stage of the NorthLink WA road project.

The FAL project involves creation of an 8.5-kilometre rail line from a spur on the Midland rail line east of Bayswater Station, up to Dundas Road in Forrestfield, and three new train stations.

All bar 500 metres of the rail line will be underground, with two of the new stations (Belmont and Perth Airport) will also be underground.

Bus, pedestrian, taxi and cycle facilities, as well as 3,000 car bays, will also be provided at the Belmont and Forrestfield stations.

The project is being undertaken by a joint venture between Perth contractor NRW Holdings and Italian company Salini Impregilo, which was awarded the $1.17 billion contract in April.

NRW’s share of the SINRW joint venture is 20 per cent.

The federal government is providing $490 million for the project.

"The FAL will provide a much-needed 20-minute public transport link between Perth's CBD and the eastern suburbs, and importantly will service future projected growth of residential and business developments planned along the rail route," Premier Colin Barnett said.

"It will also create 2,000 new jobs during construction.

"The link will not only benefit people living in the new rail corridor, but will serve airport passengers and tourists alike and will leave a great first impression for visitors to Perth."

Transport Minister Bill Marmion said preliminary works were under way at the Forrestfield end of the line, with work set to start on the construction of the entry points to the rail tunnels before the end of the year.

Two tunnel boring machines are due to arrive from Germany mid-next year.

“Construction of the rail line is an important step in improving public transport in Perth’s eastern suburbs and reducing congestion in the metropolitan area,” Mr Marmion said.

Meanwhile, at the company's AGM today, NRW chief executive Julian Pemberton told shareholders that the SINRW joint venture had also put forward a proposal for the third stage of NorthLink WA.

Mr Pemberton also said NRW planned to target other major infrastructure projects through similar partnership models.