More cost and delays hit Perth MetroRail

<p>The Western Australian Government has tacked an extra $45m onto the costs of Perth’s New MetroRail project and admitted that completion might be delayed four months to April 2007.</p> <p>Planning and Infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan said the government will decide at the end of the month whether the project will finish in December 2006 or April 2007.</p> <p>"Leighton Contractors senior management advised me last week that it was unlikely they would finish their work in the city until December 2006," Ms MacTiernan said.</p> <p>"This means it is not practical to expect the RailLink joint venture to have all their work finished by the same time."</p> <p>Although trains will be running on the line by December 2006, operational services could not be guaranteed before April 2007, she said.</p> <p>The government said industrial action, engineering complexities on the foreshore and heritage protection works had caused delays.</p> <p>The total cost of the project is now $1.563bn &#8211 critics say the final costs could blow out to $2bn.</p> <br />