Two construction contracts with a combined value of $600 million has been signed by the New South Wales Government and these contracts will get works going to modernise and upgrade the State’s rail network as well as create up to 550 new jobs.
These works will include vital upgrades to rail infrastructure such as stabling yards, signalling, track, station platforms and power supply at various locations between Central, the T8 Airport Line tunnel and the South Coast.
“We’re cracking on with major infrastructure projects like this one to ensure we support jobs, communities and the economy at this critical time.
“Today’s announcement means we are keeping people in work and creating about 350 direct new jobs and around 200 indirect jobs located either in Sydney or on the South Coast,” Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.
The jobs to be made available will provide opportunities for engineers, rail construction workers, security guards, truck drivers, electricians, plumbers, labourers, concrete workers and apprentices.
This employment drive will also open opportunities for skills development and training for women, young people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to help develop a diverse workforce.
“The work will support the introduction of new suburban and intercity trains and allow us to deliver more frequent train services, with less wait times and a more comfortable journey for customers on the T4 Illawarra, T8 Airport and South Coast lines.
“We’re prioritising these lines because they are among the busiest on the network, catering for 440,000 trips in a typical day, which is around one third of daily rail customers,” Mr Constance said.
The rail infrastructure upgrades will be delivered through two separate work packages – each valued at about $300 million – and they are part of the NSW Government’s $4.3 billion More Trains, More Services program.
The upgrades between Central and Hurstville are going to be undertaken by the Next Rail partnership – comprised of John Holland and Jacobs – while works between Mortdale and Kiama are going to be delivered by the Transport for Tomorrow partnership – comprising of Laing O’Rourke and KBR.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Jacobs on this project, which will deliver hundreds of new jobs and get people home to their loved ones earlier every day,” John Holland Executive General Manager Rail Steve Butcher said.
“We’re pleased to be working with the NSW Government and John Holland to help modernise the rail network, supporting the rollout of new train technologies and transforming the travel experience of train customers for the better,” Jacobs People & places Solutions Senior Vice President Operations Patrick Hill said.
The rail upgrades works are anticipated to begin in mid-2020 and are due to be completed prior to service improvements planned for late 2022.
More improvements are planned to be delivered for customers in 2024. This includes improvements on the T4, T8 and South Coast Lines which will effectively integrate the Sydney Metro City and Southwest.
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Source: Transport for NSW; John Holland