A$8.5bn Aussie rail link attracts ‘outstanding’ interest

In “an outstanding result”, six consortia including more than 60 companies have signalled their intention to bid for the contract to build twin 15.5-kilometre tunnels between Bella Vista and Epping, according to New South Wales Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian.

The tunneling design-build contract is the first of two further contracts for the A$8.5 billion (€7.2 billion; $8.9 billion) project. The third contract might be a potential 10- to 15-year operations and maintenance rolling stock public-private partnership, subject to value for money considerations.

The consortia which have lodged expressions of interest for the tunneling contract are:

– Australian building and civil engineering company Baulderstone and Bouygues Travaux Publics;

– China Rail 15th Group Australia, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), the second largest state-owned construction enterprise in China;

– Civilinc, a consortium of Spain’s Acciona Infrastructure Australia, Ferrovial Agroman, and Italy’s Ghella; 

– OHL Impregilo, comprising Spain’s Obrascon Huarte Lain SA (OHL) and Italy’s Impregilo;

– The RapidLink consortium of Japan’s Obayashi Corporation, McConnell Dowell Constructors, Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction;

– Thiess John Holland Dragados, comprising Australian Thiess, John Holland,  and Spain’s Dragados Grupo. 

The official call for tenders will take place in October, with a contract expected to be awarded in the second half of 2013. 

The North West Rail Link project is due for completion in 2019-2020.

The tender process for the two remaining contracts – including surface construction works, and rail systems, trains and operations – is expected to start later this year.

The New South Wales government is contributing A$3.3 billion of the A$8.5 billion project over the next four years, including A$360 million from this year's state budget.