AUSTRALIA: The government of Western Australia has awarded the Coleman Rail-led Evolve Bayswater Alliance a A$253m contract for the reconstruction of Bayswater station on the Perth suburban network.
Located on the Midland line, 7 km northeast of the city centre, Bayswater is set to become a major hub on the 1 067 mm gauge network. It will be the junction for the 8·5 km Forrestfield-Airport Link now under construction, and would also be served by the 21 km Morley-Ellenbrook Line being developed as part of the Metronet expansion programme.
The $253m contract covers reconstruction of the station and the surrounding urban precinct, as well as rail infrastructure works.
Enabling works and utility diversions are already underway for the construction of an island platform alongside the current station. Once this has been completed, Midland Line services will be switched to the new platform while the old station is removed and a second island platform is built for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
A turnback siding will also be built to the west of the station for use by off-peak airport branch services. At peak times, trains to and from the Forrestfield-Airport Link will continue across the city centre to Claremont on the Fremantle Line, doubling the current service on the inner section of the Midland Line.
‘Bayswater is on track to becoming one of Perth’s best connected communities, with access to three rail lines and many bus services’, said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, announcing the selection of the Alliance on April 9. ‘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. This will ultimately support the state’s wider economy. Building this project, combined with other major projects like the Tonkin Gap and Morley-Ellenbrook Line, will help support the WA economy through some tough times ahead.’
