Spanish engineering group ACCIONA has been named as preferred proponent for the construction works for the $253 million Bayswater train station upgrade, beating out a rival bid from a consortium comprising Georgiou Group and Lendlease.
Spanish engineering group ACCIONA has been named as preferred proponent for the construction works for the $253 million Bayswater train station upgrade, beating a rival bid from a consortium comprising Georgiou Group and Lendlease.
The Western Australian government today named the Evolve Bayswater Alliance as preferred proponent, comprising only ACCIONA’s Coleman Rail subsidiary.
The Alliance previously included local contractor Decmil, which has hit major problems in recent months with work it has been undertaking on the east coast and in New Zealand.
While Decmil is no longer formally part of the Alliance, Business News understands it is likely to be involved in the Bayswater project as a sub-contractor.
The Bayswater contract includes the design and construction of a new station building and platforms, as well as surrounding works associated with other Metronet rail projects.
Coleman Rail will build the rail infrastructure to connect the Midland line with the Forrestfield-Airport Link, currently under construction, and the planned Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
The company will also build a rail turnback required for the airport link, west of the new station.
Coleman Rail general manager Sean Bonham welcomed the announcement.
“Fantastic news to be named preferred proponent for the new Bayswater station, especially being the first major project to be announced since the COVD-19 pandemic," Mr Bonham told Business News.
"We look forward to providing employment opportunities for locals, and the opportunity this project provides to grow our business in WA.”
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the project would support the WA economy through tough times ahead.
“In times like these it’s important we continue to progress the projects that will provide work for local businesses and keep workers in their jobs,” she said.
“This will ultimately support the state’s wider economy”.
The Bayswater station project is expected to employ 350 people.
Early works began last year, including with the relocation of the City of Bayswater’s 80-year-old Kurrajong tree to Bert Wright Park.
Work is currently under way to relocate the main cable route, with the works awarded to Underground Services Australia in February under a $1.2 million contract.
Additional car park space is also being built at the Meltham and Ashfield train stations, which will be used by commuters during construction of the new Bayswater station.
Westforce Construction secured the works under a $1.6 million contract awarded last October.
Coleman Rail was previously involved in several WA transport projects, including for the construction of the Ashton Avenue and Hamilton Street bridges.
The company was purchased by ACCIONA as part of the Geotech acquisition in 2017.
ACCIONA is emerging as a major engineering and construction contractror in WA in its own right, with work under way on public and private infrastructure projects and bids outstanding for several others.
