John Holland has secured a multi-million dollar contract to install new rail and deliver upgrade works on the $252 million Adelaide-Tarcoola Rail Upgrade Acceleration Project.
According to Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, this project – which is funded by the Australian Government – will be a boost to regions between Adelaide, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Tarcoola.
“Local businesses and supplier will reap the flow-on benefits of this multi-million dollar rail investment, with the project already having helped secure additional steel volumes at the Whyalla steel mill, creating dozens of jobs – and more on the way.
“This is an upgrade that will boost freight rail performance between Australia’s eastern and western states, boosting productivity, jobs and confidence in local communities across South Australia in particular. It will allow faster and heavier trains to operate between Adelaide and Perth,” Mr Chester said.
Mr Chester added that more than half of the 72,000 tonnes of locally-made steel that is required for the project has already been delivered via rail to the various sites along the track.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said that the announcement of the project came after the centenary celebration of the Trans-Australian Railway in October by the Port Augusta and Eyre Peninsula regions.
“This year we celebrate the joining of the rails that occurred on 17 October 1917, connecting Western Australia by rail with the rest of the country and the Adelaide-Tarcoola re-railing upgrade will continue that legacy of investment in the Trans-Australian Railway.
“This project will allow faster and heavier trains to safely traverse the country, which will see product get to market quicker and more efficiently, keeping our farmers and exporters competitive on the global stage,” Mr Ramsey said.
The project is expected to create up to 130 jobs for the region. Works have commenced in mid-2017, with completion expected by mid-2019.
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Source: Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Australian Rail Track Corporation