RailLink Consortium awarded $352m Perth to Mandurah Rail Project

Issue Date:  24 May 2004
Issued By:  Leighton Holdings Limited

Company Announcements Office
The Australian Stock Exchange Limited
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Re: RailLink Consortium awarded $352m Perth to Mandurah Rail Project

Dear Sir,

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

Yours sincerely,


P.C. JANU
Company Secretary

RailLink Consortium awarded $352m Perth to Mandurah Rail Project

Issue Date: 24 May 2004
Issued by: RailLink Joint Venture

The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia has awarded the Perth to Mandurah Rail Infrastructure Project (Package A) to RailLink Joint Venture, which comprises John Holland (65%), Macmahon (25%) & Multiplex (10%), and major sub-contractor O’Donnell Griffin.

The project’s total value is $352M (incl GST), which includes $310M (excl GST) funded by the New MetroRail Project. The balance is funded from other government sources for associated works which form part of the contract sum.

RailLink will deliver the new Southern Suburbs Railway, which includes 70km double track and traction power, and signalling and communications systems between Perth and Mandurah. The project will almost double the size of the current Perth electrified network.

The project will also include earthworks, drainage, fencing and the design and construction of about 16 road, rail and pedestrian bridges and underpasses between Glen Iris and Mandurah. For 30kms of the route, the railway is constructed in the median of the Kwinana Freeway.

At the peak of construction, some 400 people will be employed.

Passenger services on the new Southern Suburbs Railway are due to commence on 31 December 2006. Trains will travel up to 130km per hour, reducing travelling time between Perth and Mandurah to 48 minutes. The railway will accelerate development in the southern corridor and represents a major Government commitment to urban rail transport.

John Holland Group Managing Director, Bill Wild, expressed delight that RailLink has been awarded one of largest rail construction projects in Western Australia’s history.

‘The consortium partners bring together specialised expertise: Macmahons in earthworks, Multiplex in structures, and John Holland in track laying, civil construction and bridges.

‘I congratulate the Consortium and know that they are committed to complete this significant project for the Western Australian Government on schedule with minimum impact on the adjacent communities and existing freeway traffic.

‘This project brings the workload of John Holland’s Rail Division to record levels. John Holland has existing five year track maintenance contracts for Perth’s suburban rail network and the WestNet regional network in Western Australia,’ Mr Wild said.

ends

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