THE STATES OF WESTERN AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AS WELL AS THE TERRITORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL ALSO OPTS FOR THE TRAIN AS A MEANS OF TRANSPORT. PROOF OF THE FOREGOING ARE THE PROJECTS IN PROGRESS, SUCH AS METRONET, CONNECTIONS TO THE FORRESTFIELD AIRPORT OR THE EXTENSION OF THE CANBERRA TRAM.
Public transport services are a priority in states such as Western and South Australia, as well as in the Australian Capital Territory. All of them aim to respond to the expected increase in population and new mobility needs.
Metronet
One of the most significant public transport works in the state is Metronet. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion on roads by expanding the Perth network. In its first stage, 78 new kilometres of track and 18 stations will be built. Amongst the tasks involved includes the completion of the railway branch to Forrestfield airport and
the extension of the lines from Joondalup to Yanchep, Midland to Bellevue and Armadale Line to Byford.
Furthermore, the Thornlie and Cockburn stations will be connected, a new 21 kilometre line (Morley-Ellenbrook) will be enabled and new stations such as Karnup will be built at the Mandurah branch.
On the other hand, in order to provide this network with modern and higher capacity trains, the Railcar Programme is underway, which has a budget of 1.6 billion Australian dollars (984 million euros) for the acquisition of 246 new trains
This programme seeks to replace the old models of the series and the diesel units that operate between Perth and Enrique Bunbury. Alstom Transport Australia will be responsible for the supply of the new C series, which will enter service from the year 2022.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Forresfield Airport Rail Link
The “Forrestfield-Airport Link” connection is a project jointly financed by the federal government and that of the state of Western Australia. For its development there is a budget of 1.86 billion Australian dollars (1.145 billion euros). The layout will take advantage of the existing Midland line to extend the service to the peripheral areas of eastern Perth. The works, which will be completed in 2021, include three new stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central and Forrestfield.
In April 2016, the Salini Impregilo NRW (SI-NRW) consortium was awarded a contract of 1.176 billion AUS$ (796 million euros) for the design, construction and 10 years of line maintenance.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide light rail extension (AdeLINK Tram extension)
In September 2017, the government of South Australia allocated 80 million dollars (49.2 million euros) to the first phase of AdeLink, a project to connect the north with the south of the city, which included the acquisition of three additional trams. The City Council added 5 million to hasten proceedings.
This year, the state executive has announced the intention to continue with the plans to expand the network. It is one of the infrastructure priorities.
For its part, the tender also includes it within the long-term strategy called “20-year city transport strategy”.
Five lines are raised that reach the peripheral areas.
Flinders Link (Adelaide)
The extension of the Tonsley railway line to the Flinders Medical Centre is one of the works underway in the city of Adelaide.
This project has been endowed with a budget of 125 million Australian dollars (76 million euros). The route will create new connections with the health and education facilities of the city.
The project includes the construction of a new station in Flinders and the elimination of the one in Tonsley.
Gawler line electrification
The electrification and modernisation of the rail line between Adelaide and Gawler will improve the service on this network while increasing its capacity. The works have been adjudicated the amount of 615 million Australian dollars (383 million euros).
The completion of the project is forecast for 2021.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra Light Rail (Phase I and II)
The forthcoming extension of the light rail network from Canberra to Woden, by 1.7 kilometres, is planned for the year 2024. This section will have three new stops in City West, City South and Commonwealth Park. With this extension, which will have four additional units, the network will serve 3,000 more passengers per day during its first year of operation.