<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> A $400m deal will see French multinational Alstom deliver automated trainsets and signalling for the in-development North West Rail Link in Sydney. </span> <div>Alstom will deliver 22 Metropolis trainsets and Urbalis 400 communications-based train control for the network, which itself is being delivered and operated by the consortium of MTR Corporation (Australia), John Holland, Leighton Contractors, UGL Rail Services and Plenary Group.<br /><br />NSW premier Mike Baird and minister for transport Gladys Berejiklian announced the deal on Monday, which is part of the $3.7bn operations contract signed by the consortium.<br /><br />Baird said NWRL services will start in the first half of 2019, and will operate at 15 trains an hour during peak periods, operating at 98% on-time running. <br /><br />“The NSW Government promised 12 trains an hour but we’ll be able to start with 15 trains an hour in the peak – with significant room to grow as the North West’s population increases over coming decades,” he said.<br /><br />NWRL is scheduled to be Australia’s first fully-automated rapid transit rail network. The development includes eight new railway stations, and the network will also include five existing railway stations set to be upgraded to rapid transit status.<br /><br />The Public Private Partnership is the largest ever awarded in NSW, and will see the Northwest Rapid Transit consortium deliver NWRL and operate it for 15 years.<br /><br />Alstom has made rapid transit trains for Singapore, Hong Kong, Milan and Amsterdam.<br /><br />“With tunnelling now underway and a contract signed to operate the rail network – the NSW Government is well and truly delivering,” Berejiklian said.<br /><br />“The country’s first new fully-automated rapid transit trains are being designed to meet the needs of Sydney.<br /><br />At the start of operations, the link will use six-carriage trains, however more carriages and trains can be added as demand increases, with the platforms to be built long enough for eight-carriage trains, according to the minister.<br /><br />“We’re working to fine-tune the seating configuration, but there will be plenty of seats as well as brand new innovations like multi-purpose areas for prams and luggage,” she continued.<br /><br />“There will also be customer service assistants at every station and they’ll also be moving through the network during the day and night.<br /><br />“If we receive a mandate next March, the Rapid Transit network will be extended through the CBD and west to Bankstown, giving public transport customers right across Sydney access to fast, reliable and modern turn-up-and-go services.”
