Bidders for GCRT facing difficulties
The consortiums competing to build Queensland’s Gold Coast Rapid Transit have reportedly been experiencing problems with their bids for the project.
The Queensland Government last month told two bidders: the GC Connect consortium, including John Holland, and Move GC, including Leighton Contractors, that there were problems with their bids, with reports that the third consortium, GoldlinQ, may also be facing difficulties considering its sub-contractor is Downer EDI, whose Waratah train contract has been besieged by problems, the Sunday Mail reported.
Federal opposition commits to Moorebank
The Federal Opposition’s director of policy Mark Roberts has reportedly committed the Opposition to building the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal.
“The Moorebank Intermodal Terminal has been subject to numerous planning and economic studies. It is the Coalition’s preferred site for Sydney’s intermodal freight terminal,” Roberts reportedly wrote to a group of concerned local residents.
He acknowledged the very vocal local opposition to the project in saying the developers of the project need to ensure they have addressed all community concerns about the development, including noise and environmental concerns.
OPR update
Murchison Metals continues to move the Jack Hills Expansion project (JHEP) and the Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) project forward, funded by the company’s US$100m  bridge finance facility announced at the end of 2010.
The facility is with Resource Capital Fund V L.P., a resources-focused private equity fund.
The feasibility study for OPR is due in the June quarter this year.
Murchison received a vote of confidence last week with the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPA) recommending the Oakajee development.
The EPA determined that development of the proposed 45 million tonnes per annum Oakajee port, 24 kilometres north of Geraldton, and associated heavy-haulage railway extending 570 kilometre north-east to the Jack Hills iron ore project, could be managed to meet the EPA’s objectives.
South West Rail Link update
New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally has celebrated the completion of one million hours of work on the South West Rail Link.
Keneally said workers had undertaken part of Stage One of the South West Rail Link, including a new 700-space commuter car park at Glenfield and a 112-space car park at Seddon Park. Work is also under way on the northern and southern flyovers which will connect the South West Rail Link to the existing CityRail network.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Gladys Berejiklian said the link had tripled in cost from $688m in December 2004 to $2.1bn in February 2010.
Introducing the Rail Plus Smart Tab
Amadeus, a leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, and Rail Plus, the only dedicated international rail specialist general sales agent in Australia, have signed an agreement which will see Rail Plus’s extensive catalogue of rail content integrated into Amadeus’ award-winning front office solution, Amadeus Selling Platform, using Amadeus’ smart tab technology.
The Rail Plus Smart Tab, the first development of its kind in this market, will integrate rail content directly into the agent’s front office work environment, bringing multiple benefits to Amadeus users.
"Rail is an increasingly attractive option for both leisure and business travellers and Rail Plus will continue to lead the way in making it easier for agents to search and book international and domestic rail journeys,” Rail Plus chief exectuive David Stafford said.
.
“