Shortlist announced for Sydney light rail PPP

Three consortia have been shortlisted for the A$1.6 billion (€1.05 billion; $1.4 billion) Sydney light public-private partnership (PPP).

The consortia are: SydneyConnect (Serco, John Holland and Plenary Group); iLinQ (Keolis Downer, Balfour Beatty, McConnell Dowell, Bombardier and Macquarie Capital); and Connecting Sydney (Transdev, Alstom Transport Australia and Capella Capital).

“It is very encouraging that the strong participation in market sounding and industry briefings last year has translated into responses from high quality firms,” said Gladys Berejiklian, New South Wales’ Transport Minister.

The contract involves the design, construction, service relocations, operations and maintenance of a 12-kilometre network linking Circular Quay, the Central station, Sydney Cricket Ground and Randwick racecourse. It also covers the operation and maintenance of the Inner West Light Rail network.

The project is broken down into two contracts – one for the PPP and one for early works. A shortlist for the early works contract was announced two weeks ago and comprised: Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction; Leighton Contractors; and a joint venture between Downer EDI Works and Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia.

The progress made by the light rail project is another feather in the cap for New South Wales, which has won plaudits for its PPP pipeline and the nature of its procurement process.

“New South Wales has been able to get on with the job of delivering major projects like the North West Rail Link, WestConnex and the Sydney Light Rail PPP because it has done the heavy lifting on budget reform,” said Brendan Lyon, chief executive of infrastructure lobby group Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.