John Holland Wins $150m Contract Extension with WestNet Rail

Company Announcements Office
The Australian Stock Exchange Limited
Level 4
20 Bridge Street
Sydney NSW 2000

RE: John Holland Wins $150m Contract Extension with WestNet Rail

Dear Sir,

Please find attached a copy of a media release to be issued today by John Holland Group Pty Limited. John Holland Group Pty Limited is a 70% owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited.

Yours faithfully,

A.J. MOIR
Company Secretary

John Holland wins $150m contract extension with WestNet Rail

Issue Date: 17 January 2002
Issued by: John Holland Group

John Holland announced today that its Rail Division has been appointed to provide Infrastructure Maintenance Services to WestNet Rail for a further five-year term commencing on 16 February 2002. The contract is valued at approximately $150m.

John Holland Rail Division has maintained the 4,000 km of narrow gauge track for Westrail, the former Government owned operator, since 1996, and for WestNet since privatisation of the rail network in December 2000.  The extended contract incorporates both the standard and narrow gauge networks, a total of 5,600 km of track.

Managing Director Bill Wild, said that John Holland was delighted to be selected by WestNet for this expanded role.

“The contract extension reflects the strong relationship which has developed between John Holland and WestNet Rail and our pre-eminent position in the rail construction and maintenance industry in Australia,” he said.

WestNet Rail is owned by the Australian Railroad Group (ARG) an equally-owned joint venture between Wesfarmers Limited and Genesee & Wyoming Inc (GWI) of the United States.  In December 2000 ARG acquired the freight business of Westrail, purchasing all rolling stock, customer contracts and a 49-year lease on Western Australia’s rail network.  

John Holland was established in 1949 and is one of Australia’s best known construction and engineering companies.  It has a high profile in the rail sector and is a member of the Consortium building the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway. It is a leader in construction contracting in the civil, building and mechanical engineering sectors and over recent years has established a strong position in telecommunications, defence and maintenance contracting.

For further information contact:    
Anne Fogarty
John Holland Group
+61 3 9934 5231 or 0409 791 101