WA Government secures new railcars

22/12/06

The Western Australian Government has finalised a $160million contract for 45 new railcars to service growing passenger numbers on Perth’s rail network.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the Public Transport Authority had concluded negotiations with EDI Rail-Bombardier Transportation Pty Ltd this week.

Plans to acquire the extra railcars were announced by the Premier Alan Carpenter and the Minister in mid-September.

“The Labor Government had the courage to make a big investment in public transport and this week’s purchase shows just how visionary that decision was,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“We have upgraded stations, opened new lines and stations, put in a world-class security system and added railcars to the fleet to make train use more appealing.

“Total train boardings rose by 5.1 per cent to 32.7 million in 2004-05, by 4.5 per cent to 34.1 million in 2005-06, and are on track for a further 5.9 per cent increase this year - and our capacity is stretched during peak periods.

“Transperth projections indicate that this trend will continue. With the Mandurah line operating from next year, our network will have almost doubled in size since 2001 and we can expect 50 million boardings by 2009-10.

“This will enable us to cater for that growth in the next decade.”

The Minister said deliveries of the 130kmh stainless steel railcars, configured as 15 three-car train sets, would begin in late 2008 and run through to 2011.

“The new railcars are the same design as the B-series three car sets already in use on our system and those ready to come into service when the new line opens in 2007,” she said.

Maintenance of the new trains would be incorporated into the existing maintenance contract.