NEW METRORAIL PROGRESS
Work continued on construction of the Southern Suburbs Railway, the centrepiece of the New MetroRail project. Construction of the railway was nearly complete at year’s end, and testing, commissioning and handover were underway.
The Southern Suburbs Railway comprises 72 route kilometres of double-track railway between Perth and Mandurah, eleven stations, 770 metres of twin tunnels under the Perth CBD, 18 bridges and structures, significant road and civil works, a 25kv electrical traction power overhead wiring system, signalling and communications and two electrical power feeder stations.
The New MetroRail project also involves the
design, construction and maintenance of 93 new
B-series electric railcars,
the last of which was
delivered in July 2006 and all of which are operating
successfully on the Joondalup Line between Perth
and Clarkson and are stored and maintained at a
new depot located at Nowergup.
Total expenditure in 2006/07 was $276.21 million, bringing total expenditure on the New MetroRail Project to $1,559.6 million (98.1% of the total budget).
The target date for commencement of services on the Southern Suburbs Railway was 29 July 2007. There were delays in completion of a number of critical areas of the infrastructure and the interface works between major contracts. There were a number of claims from contractors for extensions of time, delays and extra cost. A number of these claims are being disputed through the courts.
In May 2007, it was announced that the 29 July 2007 completion date for the Southern Suburbs Railway was unachievable. At year’s end, a completion date had not been determined even though the indication was that the works would be substantially completed by October.
The major highlights of the New MetroRail project during 2006/07 were:
- The last nine of 93 B-series railcars was put into service in July 2006.
- The twin bored tunnels below the CBD were completed in October 2006 while the underground William Street and Esplanade Stations were substantially completed.
- Laying of the mainline railway track between
Perth and Mandurah was completed in
December 2006.
At year’s end approximately
80% of the overhead wiring along the line had
been erected, along with associated electrical,
signalling and communications equipment.
- Construction of the nine stations between Canning Bridge and Mandurah was completed.
- The first stage of a public safety awareness
program
was completed, in which all primary and
secondary schools within two kilometres of the
railway were visited to make the students aware
of electrical safety on the railway.
- In October 2006, the Public Transport Authority’s internal auditors undertook an audit of New MetroRail and found high standards of administration, contract and financial management of the packages and project management.
- In November 2006, the Office of Rail Safety undertook a Compliance Audit of the management of New MetroRail Project within the scope of its annual audit of the Public Transport Authority. As with previous audits, the Compliance Audit found a strong commitment to rail safety within New MetroRail.
- Ongoing community consultation by New MetroRail has resulted in resolution of a significant number of claims for damage or adverse impact arising from the construction works.
- Overall public support of the Southern Suburbs Railway continued at a very high level of 92% compared with 87% recorded in November 2006 and 84% recorded in May 2006 in the independent opinion poll undertaken during May 2007.
- Documentation of the construction of the Southern Suburbs Railway is being recorded in a commemorative book, release of which will follow the opening of the railway.