Mark Carter

THE Australian government is seeking high-quality proposals for the development of business cases to bring faster rail links between urban and regional areas.

TESTING of trams has commenced on the 7.3km Gold Coast light rail Stage 2 extension between Gold Coast University Hospital and Helensvale station.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has awarded new seven-year contracts for the operation of Melbourne’s suburban rail and tram services to incumbent franchise holders Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) and Yarra Trams.

THE government of the Australian state of Western Australia announced on September 7 that it has allocated a budget of $A 1.34bn ($US 1.08bn) over the next four years for its Metronet expansion of the Perth suburban rail network.

AS part of its ongoing freight strategy for the Melbourne to Brisbane rail corridor, Australian logistics and interstate rail freight operator SCT Logistics officially opened its Bromelton Intermodal Estate freight hub in south east Queensland on August 23.

THE government of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has reaffirmed its intention to replace its entire regional rolling stock fleet and has also announced a new depot will be constructed in the regional centre of Dubbo to maintain the new trains.

AUSTRALIAN rail freight operator Aurizon has announced that it will withdraw from both the intra and interstate Intermodal rail businesses through a combination of closures and sales in the coming months.

INFRASTRUCTURE Australia (IA), the independent body that advises the federal and state governments on infrastructure priorities and funding, has released a policy paper calling on Australian governments to protect vital corridors to avoid cost overruns when delivering new roads and railways.

THE state government of South Australia has awarded an $A 80m ($US 63.5m) contract for construction of Adelaide’s East End light rail extension to the Downer York joint venture of Downer EDI Works and South Australian partner York Civil.

GLOBAL mining company Rio Tinto says automation of its Western Australia Pilbara iron ore heavy-haul rail network (Autohaul) is progressing well, with around 20% of all train kilometres now operating in autonomous mode, albeit with drivers still on-board managing the remaining safety and reliability systems.