Tendersinfo keep you informed about the latest events in the national and international Procurement Industry. Procurement News provides in-depth coverage of the procurement industry, including contract awards, contract additions, new contract wins, mergers and acquisitions. Tendersinfo through its tender news section provides an update on all domestic and global tendering opportunities, invitation to bid & trade leads.

Publish Date : 29-Jun-2017

The McConnell Dowell and Martinus Rail joint venture have won a contract from the Australian federal and Victorian state governments for stages two, three and four of the Murray Basin rail freight network revitalisation project.

The $A 440m ($US 334.6m) project covers upgrading and converting the existing 1055km network from broad gauge to standard gauge, and raising axleloads from 19 to 21 tonnes apart from on the Ouyen - Murrayville line. Initial work will also be taken up to reopen the 87km line between Maryborough and Ararat.

Commencement of construction is expected next month, to continue until August 2018. Around 400 personnel would likely be placed on the job for the project during its peak time.

The Australian and Victorian governments are jointly financing the project which would likely increase the reliability and capacity of the network and also enhance access to and exports from Victorias ports at Portland, Geelong, and Melbourne.

Mr Darren Chester, Australian federal minister for infrastructure and transport said, Once the Murray Basin Rail Project is completed, trains on the freight network will be able to carry more product, more often. There will be huge benefits to the Australian economy, with the project supporting an increase in competition between the three ports and operators of freight trains and increasing export volumes to overseas markets.

In 2016, the first stage of the project was completed which included the installation of 175,000 sleepers and 3.4km of new rail on the Mildura and Hopetoun lines.

Go to previous page