Leighton Contractors has been selected by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to deliver the final stage of the Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) in an Alliance contract worth $150 million for Leighton Contractors.
The Alliance will complete the construction of a 36km dedicated freight line between Macarthur and Sefton in southern Sydney. The SSFL will provide a third track in the rail corridor specifically for freight services, allowing passenger and freight services to operate independently.
“The delivery team integrates rail systems specialists and highly experienced construction personnel who have previously delivered some of Australia’s most challenging rail infrastructure projects,” said Mike Metcalfe, Executive General Manager of the Construction Division at Leighton Contractors.
“This is the second major project we are delivering with ARTC and we look forward to contributing further to the development of rail infrastructure in New South Wales.”
ARTC Chief Executive Officer, John Fullerton, said the SSFL will improve services to freight rail customers by removing the current peak hour curfew.
“It will also allow more freight trains to operate between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, providing positive outcomes for the economy, the environment and road safety,” he said.
“Each freight train means 100 less trucks on our interstate routes and, with rail consuming far less fuel than road transport, the project will be helping to reduce carbon emissions.”
“We’re very happy to be working with Leighton Contractors to deliver this important infrastructure project that will further the resurgence in rail freight.”
The contract builds on Leighton Contractors’ existing national rail capability which includes projects such as the Upper Hunter Valley Alliance in NSW with ARTC, the Kingsgrove to Revesby Quadruplication and Richmond Line Alliance in Sydney, as well as the Westall Upgrade in Victoria.
The Alliance expects to start construction in October and completion is scheduled for late 2012.
