The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has appointed Regionerate Rail – a consortium comprising Plenary Group, Clough, GS Engineering and Construction, Webuild and Service Stream – as preferred bidder for the development of the Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail, a significant milestone for the part of the project running through the State of Queensland in Australia. The contract is worth more than AU$5bn (€3.27bn) for the design and construct elements.
The section between Gowrie and Kagaru will be approximately 128km of new and upgraded rail track through the most geographically challenging section of the 1,700km rail line between Brisbane in Queensland and Melbourne in Victoria. It will include a 6.2km tunnel through the Great Dividing Range, the largest diameter freight tunnel in the southern hemisphere. Being delivered as a public-private partnership (PPP), the contract will also include a 25-year maintenance phase after the completion of the section between Gowrie to Kagaru.
“For us, Australia is one of the most strategic markets in the world, given the opportunities that it offers in sustainable mobility and renewable energy,” said Webuild Chief Executive Officer, Pietro Salini. “We are proud of Webuild’s involvement in Inland Rail, especially on the most technically complex section of the project. Our reputation continues to strengthen, built day in, day out by our people in a country that is one of the most demanding markets in terms of quality and expertise required. As a Group, we have been in Australia since the 1970s. We have gradually expanded our activities in a number of states, from Western Australia to New South Wales, from Victoria to Queensland. This latest project, after the North East Link in Melbourne, is the results of years of investment made in a country where we aim to consolidate our presence for the long term – as Australians in support of clients who face the challenges of delivering sustainable infrastructure of quality to their communities.”
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