The State of Victoria, Australia, has selected two consortia to compete for the contract for the first major package of the Melbourne Airport rail link project.
The first phase of the project involves upgrading the West Footscray–Albion section, and the international consortia have been selected for the final stage of the tender process for the last work package.
The two consortia selected for the final stage of the bidding process are:
- CPB Contractors and SMEC Australia. CPB Contractors has previously participated in major projects such as the Cross River Rail in Brisbane, the Sydney Metro, the Broadway Millennium Subway in Vancouver, and the Caulfield–Dandenong level crossing elimination program.
- FCC Construction, Martinus Rail, Arcadis, and BG&E. FCC Construction has worked on international infrastructure projects, including metro lines in Peru and Spain, as well as Australian projects such as the Barwon Heads Road Duplication, while Martinus Rail has been involved in the Inland Rail and Sydney Metro Southwest projects.
What the airport rail link contract entails
The project aims to reorganize the complex rail junction between West Footscray and Albion and transform Sunshine Station into a major transportation hub. The modernization will allow for the operation of over 1,000 trains daily on this segment and will prepare the infrastructure for future rail services to the airport, as well as for the subsequent electrification of the line to Melton.
The project will also involve the construction of two railway bridges, a new underpass, and the installation of state-of-the-art signaling systems. Six kilometers of passenger and freight lines will be realigned, and a new, modern, and accessible Tottenham station will be built.
The program is divided into five work packages, four of which are being carried out through the existing alliances of the level crossing elimination program. The fifth package has now entered the final stage of competitive bidding, following the selection of two candidates.
The winning consortium will carry out work to extend the rail corridor and construct additional tracks, two new regional platforms, and expand the access area at Sunshine Station, along with related upgrades to the rail network.
The package also includes the implementation of the “Sunshine Station Master Plan,” which calls for improvements in the area surrounding the station, including a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the rail lines, the modernization of the bus terminal, new public spaces, and landscaping work.
The selection of the consortia follows the awarding, earlier this year, of a contract to McConnell Dowell, ARUP, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line, and VIDA Rail for the relocation of underground utilities, including a major aviation fuel pipeline between Albion and Sunshine. This work is necessary to clear the space for the new rail infrastructure.
Currently, crews are working in the Albion station parking lot, which has been temporarily closed to install approximately 250 meters of steel pipe, ahead of the start of tunnel boring work for the pipeline, scheduled for next month.
The modernization of the West Footscray–Albion line is scheduled for completion in 2030.
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