Five major firms have been shortlisted by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to design and construct the Botany Rail Duplication and Cabramatta Loop projects.
The Australian Government is investing $400 million into the key project that will enable more freight to be transported by rail from Sydney.
ARTC CEO and Managing Director John Fullerton said improving freight performance at Port Botany is critical for the economic growth and prosperity of Australia.
“The amount of container freight handled by the Port is set to significantly increase by 77 per cent to 25.5 million tonnes by 2036,” John said.
“Each freight train can take up to 54 trucks worth of freight off the road, tackling congestion and improving the everyday commute in Sydney.”
Three contractors have been shortlisted to bid for the Botany Rail Duplication Project including CPB Contractors, Laing O’Rourke and John Holland.
Downer EDI, Fulton Hogan, and John Holland have been shortlisted to bid for the Cabramatta Loop Project.
The Cabramatta Loop Project will allow freight trains travelling in either direction along the Southern Sydney Freight Line to pass each other and provide additional rail freight capacity for the network.
Once completed, the single remaining freight rail track section of the Botany Line between Mascot and Botany will be duplicated and a new passing loop on the Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) between Cabramatta Station and Warwick Farm Station will allow for freight trains up to 1300 metres in length.
The NSW Ports’ 30-year Master Plan shows 80 per cent of containers moving through Port Botany are delivered to locations within a 40km radius of the port
Port rail shuttles will help move more of the freight task to and from outer Western and South Western Sydney freight precincts.
“These major projects aim to improve rail capacity, flexibility and reliability for freight rail customers, encouraging more freight to shift from road to rail, and we are getting on with delivering these massive improvements,” John said.
The formal tender process for both projects will be undertaken this year.