Downer EDI (Downer) has been awarded a contract, through a 50/50 joint venture with Bombardier Transportation Australia, to supply Western Australiaâs Public Transport Authority (PTA) with 15, three-car, single-deck electric passenger trains.
The value of the contract is more than $160m, of which Downer’s share is in excess of $80m.
The trains will be manufactured at Downer’s existing manufacturing facility in Maryborough, Queensland and delivered progressively from September 2013.
Chief executive officer of Downer, Grant Fenn, said today’s announcement builds on Downer’s strong and long standing relationship with the PTA.
"Downer Bombardier has been supplying the PTA with trains since 1991 and we are very pleased to continue our partnership in order to provide essential services to the people of Perth and the state’s growing public transport network.”
The new trains will help ease overcrowding on TransPerth’s suburban rail passenger network and also arrive in time for the opening of the $240m extension of the Northern Suburbs Railway line from Joondalup to Butler in 2014.
 Extending approximately 7.5km north of the existing Clarkson Station, the new park ‘n’ ride train and bus station in the suburb of Butler will provide a valuable service to Perth’s rapidly growing north-west suburbs.
The Downer Bombardier joint venture has also been awarded a contract with WA’s Public Transport Authority (PTA) for maintenance services.
Downer Bombardier currently maintains the PTA’s B-series fleet while the A-series fleet, including the Australind railcars, are serviced in-house under labour hire contracts.
From January 2012, Downer Bombardier will provide all the maintenance and cleaning work for the A and B-series commuter trains and the Australind diesel railcar fleet, bringing all maintenance activities of the PTA’s suburban fleet under the one contractor.
The agreement will run for seven and a half years, with an option for an extension of an additional seven and a half years.
The value of the contract is more than $285m for the seven and a half year contract term and Downer’s share of this exceeds $140m.
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