AusRAIL, Market Sectors

Mandurah rail service delayed

<p>Mandurah’s access to the South West Metropolitan Railway could be delayed by up to 12 months because of constraints in the Western Australian Budget.</p> <p>Planning and infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan said she would implement strategies to limit the delay in completing the Mandurah-Waikiki section.</p> <p>Construction of the section would be part of the same contract for railway and civil works that takes the line to Waikiki, she said</p> <p>"This means it may still be possible to bring forward completion through negotiating with the contractor over cash flow arrangements," she said.</p> <p>"Mandurah can be reassured that completion of the line to Mandurah is guaranteed. </p> <p>"The $437m contract for railcars to service Mandurah is already signed and the government aims to have signed and sealed the construction contract before the next election."</p> <p>If completion can not be brought forward from December 2007, an express bus service will be established to take commuters from Mandurah to the Waikiki rail station.</p> <br />