McConnell Dowell, in partnership with Martinus Rail, has been awarded the contract for the Murray Basin Rail Project. The project involves standardising and upgrading 1,055 km of rail freight lines to improve rail access between the Murray Basin and Victoria’s major ports.
“This huge project will make it easier for primary producers to get their goods to market — boosting exports, supporting local jobs and growing our regional economy. This project will create more than 400 jobs at peak construction, with at least 15 per cent of this workforce being recruited from the Murray Basin region,” Victorian Minister for Public Transport Luke Donnellan said.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport Luke Donnellan announced the contract award for stages two, three and four of the AUD 440 million (USD 333.4 million) Murray Basin Rail Project, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.
The upgrade will standardise and upgrade the track from broad gauge to standard gauge, increase axle loading from 19 tonnes to 21 tonnes on the network apart from Ouyen to Murrayville line, and begin the work to reopen the 87-kilometre rail line between Maryborough and Ararat.
Construction is scheduled to commence onsite in July 2017, with practical completion scheduled for August 2018.
“We are ready to maximise the benefits of this substantial investment in Victoria’s rail network, and deliver a safer, more productive rail freight network for V/Line and the people of Victoria,” McConnell Dowell Managing Director – Australia, Jim Frith, said.
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