Local content to be prioritised for $1.6bn METRONET railcars project

The tender for the $1.6 billion project to build 246 new METRONET railcars for Perth is set to be released soon and local businesses are encouraged to register their interests.

“This is a great opportunity to deliver the next generation of trains that can provide more capacity, and faster transfers, and tap into our local workforce to deliver WA projects with local skills,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.

The local content target for this billion dollar project is at 50 per cent, creating more manufacturing jobs for the region. The project budget also includes funding to build a local railcar assembly facility and associated infrastructure.

“Not only will METRONET deliver thousands of new construction jobs, but increases demand for new railcars will create a pipeline of work to boost our local manufacturing industry and maximise WA jobs,” Premier Mark McGowan said.

Stage one of this project includes the delivery of 102 new railcars - or 17 six-car sets - that will service the new METRONET developments as they are completed.

This tender will also include a follow-on order of 144 railcars - or 24 six-car sets - that will replace the old A-series railcars which are the first electric railcars on the network.

The 2017-18 State Budget has allocated $508 million towards the delivery of the new METRONET railcars, but the current budget now includes the replacement of the ageing A-series railcars as well as associated infrastructure.

Delivery of the 102 new railcars - also known as the C-series - is expected to begin in 2021 and the additional 144 railcars that will replace the A-series will be delivered between 2023 and 2026.

Shortlisted companies are going to progress to an interactive tender process before the preferred proponent is chosen in early 2019. A vital consideration for this tender process is the proponent’s ability and commitment to build 50 per cent of the railcars locally in Western Australia. The winning tenderer will also undertake the maintenance of the railcars over the next 30 years.

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Source: Government of Western Australia, METRONET