Alstom

The state government has selected French company Alstom as preferred proponent to build and maintain its new fleet of railcars, ahead of two competing groups, including the Downer Bombardier joint venture that currently maintains Perth’s railcars.

Global manufacturer Alstom has signed a 10-year contract to assemble new railcars at Midland as part of the Metronet project, with the government saying the railcars will be delivered 22 per cent below its budget at $1.25 billion.

The Metronet rail rollout could cost about $2 billion more than first estimated, as the state government gets shovels moving on projects amid delays.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has disputed claims made by opposition leader Liza Harvey at yesterday’s Business News Politics & Policy breakfast that manufacturing rail cars in Western Australia constituted an investment in a failed and unsustainable industry.

Perth-based surveilance company DTI Group has been awarded a contract by Alstom India to support the Sydney Metro Southwest rail project.

A consortium including Georgiou Group has been selected as preferred proponent for the Tonkin Highway Gap project, while the state government has also promoted a number of initiatives to support construction jobs.

Coleman Rail has secured another major project in Western Australia after being awarded a $50 million contract to build a rail freight facility in Kenwick.

The state government has allocated new funding to build a diesel railcar manufacturing facility in Bellevue, as well as establish a cathode production facility.

Bassendean business Hofmann Engineering illustrates both the opportunities and challenges facing WA as the government seeks to expand manufacturing.

The state government has opened the new Bellevue Metronet Railcar Facility, making good on its 2017 election commitment to bring railcar manufacturing back to WA.

The government is keen to push local content for the Metronet railcar build, but details are hard to come by.