Engineering, Passenger Rail, Technology and IT

Lendlease awarded Gawler electrification Stage 2 contract

The electrification of Adelaide’s Gawler Line is set to be complete in late 2020, after the South Australian government approved an extension to Lendlease’s contract for the construction of Stage 2.

Lendlease was already contracted to deliver Stage 1 of the project, which covered the first 20 kilometres of the 40-kilometre Gawler Line, between Adelaide and Salisbury. Lendlease will now also deliver the construction works for the project’s Stage 2, which will see the electrification of the line from Salisbury to Gawler.

The expected cost of the second stage is approximately $462.5 million, towards which the previous South Australian Labor Government committed $242.5 in its 2017-18 state budget. $220 million in federal funds was committed in the Turnbull Government’s 2018-19 budget for both stages.

Federal urban infrastructure and cities minister Paul Fletcher said that the new Marshall Liberal Government and the Turnbull Government would be working together closely to deliver the project, with works expected to begin on Stage 1 in the coming months.

“This project will improve travel times for Adelaide’s commuters, while supporting population growth in the region,” Fletcher said.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to tackling congestion and getting South Australians where they need to be sooner and safer – whether it be a parent trying to drop the kids off at school on time or a tradie trying to get to five jobs in a day rather than three.”

Lendlease commenced design works for the Adelaide to Salisbury section of the project earlier this year. Following the signing of the Stage 2 contract project planning and design will now incorporate the full line to Gawler.

SA’s premier Steven Marshall indicated that his government saw the project as a priority upgrade for Adelaide’s passenger rail network.

“The Gawler Line is one of Adelaide’s busiest, enabling around five million passenger journeys each year and that number has been steadily increasing for the past decade,” the premier said.

“This major project will deliver faster, safer and more reliable rail services for the northern suburbs which, we hope, will encourage more people to leave the car at home and take public transport.”

The Gawler rail electrification works will include:

  • Installation of the overhead wiring system including masts and gantry supports
  • Installation of a new signalling system
  • Installation of an Automatic Train Protection system
  • Installation of a new fibre optic communications system cable
  • Installation of protective works and modifications to existing infrastructure
  • Service relocations, vegetation trimming and removal and other works necessary to enable the electrification to proceed

Included in the works is the electrification of the Dry Creek Railcar Depot, the construction of a new electricity feeder station at Kilburn, and the installation of pedestrian level-crossing enhancements and fencing along the rail corridor for improved safety. Fifteen additional three-car electric trains will be acquired as part of the project.

2 Comments

  1. Hopefully lengthening platforms to handle 6 carriage electric train-sets is included int the “modifications to existing infrastructure. Many stations on the Gawler Line are only long enough for 3 carriage trains.

  2. Wow. What a surprise.

    No money for electrification with Labor as a state government, but the moment the libs are back in power, money is found?

    Corrupt f***s