Mark Carter

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria announced on July 18 that CPB Contractors and Bombardier Transportation will deliver the $A 1bn ($US 790m) Rail Systems Alliance (RSA), which it says includes the first rollout of a high-capacity signalling and communications system on an existing rail network in Australia.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has selected the Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP) as preferred bidder for the $A 6bn ($US 4.7bn) Melbourne Metro Tunnel and stations public-private partnership.

THE New South Wales (NSW) government has announced the awarding of a contract to build tunnels beneath Sydney Harbour, as part of the wider Sydney Metro project, to a joint venture of John Holland, CPB Contractors, and Ghella.

THE government of the Australian state of Queensland has given approval for work to begin on Brisbane’s $A 5.4bn ($US 4.07bn) Cross River Rail project, following a commitment in the state budget to fully fund construction and allocate $A 2.8bn in funding over the next four years.

THE Australian federal government published its 2017-18 budget on May 9, committing up to $A 20bn ($US 14.7bn) in current and forward investment in rail projects that it says will cut congestion in cities, provide growth in regional areas and create new employment opportunities.

AS part of its 2017-18 federal budget the Australian federal government has allocated $A 10bn ($US 7.4bn) through its National Rail Programme, which has been designed to support rail projects in major cities and provide improved connections between urban and regional areas.

THE Australian federal government has made its strongest commitment yet to the proposed Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail route with $A 8.4bn ($US 6.2bn) in equity funding for the national infrastructure manager Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in the 2017-2018 national budget, which was unveiled on May 9.

THE Australian federal government published its 2017-2018 budget on May 9, committing up to $A 20bn ($US 14.7bn) in current and forward investment in rail projects that it says will cut congestion in cities, provide growth in regional areas and create new employment opportunities.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced that its forthcoming state budget for 2017-18 will include current and forward investment of $A 1.45bn ($US 1.1bn) for a Regional Rail Revival package of upgrades on every regional passenger line across Victoria.

COAL services operated by Australian rail freight operator Aurizon have suffered severe disruption following heavy rain and flooding caused by Cyclone Debbie which made landfall on the Queensland coast during the last week of March.