<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Moreton Bay Rail Link tendererâs shortlisted to two Seats added in Sunlander changes Tasmaniaâs Don River Rail Bridge re-opened Nod to industry on coal dust monitoring program. </span> <p><u><strong>Moreton Bay Rail Link tenderer’s shortlisted to two</strong></u></p><p>The selection process to find the best design and construction team to build Queensland’s Moreton Bay Rail Link has reached the next stage, with the tenderers shortlisted from four to two.</p><p>Letters of offer for this final stage of the competitive tendering process have been sent to Salini Bielby Winslow Joint Venture and Thiess Contractors.</p><p>Federal minister for transport and infrastructure Anthony Albanese said the two remaining tenderers that have been short-listed to further develop their design and construction solutions for the project are companies with national and international credentials.</p><p>“It is essential that whoever is finally chosen to build this important piece of infrastructure project for the south east corner has the best team and the technical capabilities behind them to see this project through to its completion,” Albanese said.</p><p>“Construction of this long awaited, often promised rail line to the Redcliffe Peninsula is part of an unprecedented Federal investment in public transport nationwide. Indeed, this Labor Government is spending more than all our predecessors since Federation combined.”</p><p> </p><p><u><strong>Seats added in Sunlander changes</strong></u></p><p>Sunlander passengers will have a better and more reliable train service after the Newman Government made changes to the program, saving almost $50m in the process.</p><p>Queensland premier Campbell Newman and transport and main roads minister Scott Emerson last week inspected work underway to revolutionise Queensland’s long-distance train fleet at Maryborough’s Downer EDI facility.</p><p>“Making trains more frequent and comfortable across Queensland will deliver great economic benefits for Queenslanders and our tourism market,” Newman said.</p><p>“The previous government’s handling of this project was a farce with no seats in the original package, a train too long for existing maintenance facilities and no thought for service reliability.</p><p>“In true Labor style the project was set to blow out from $189m to almost $250m.</p><p>“As part of our new program, Downer will be delivering two additional locomotives to allow better maintenance and improve the reliability of the current fleet.</p><p>“Our Sunlander will include seats and operate six times a week between Brisbane and Cairns carrying up to 172 passengers a trip.”  </p><p><br /><u><strong>Tasmania’s Don River Rail Bridge re-opened</strong></u></p><p>The revitalisation of Tasmania’s rail network continues to advance with the opening of the first of four major North West Rail Bridges.</p><p>The newly refurbished Don River Rail Bridge forms part of the Western Line, a strategic part of the state’s rail network connecting the Port of Burnie with the South Line and the Bell Bay Line.</p><p>Built in 1886, the Don River Rail Bridge has been subject to the deteriorating effects of a windy, saline environment and an historically poor maintenance regime.</p><p>Urgent repairs and upgrade works were required to ensure the safety, integrity and long-term future operation of this critical rail link.</p><p>Tasmanian Contracting Company VEC Civil Engineering Pty Ltd carried out the rehabilitation project over a four day rail closure period, commencing on 26 December, 2012.  </p><p>TasRail CEO Damien White said the successful completion of the $3m upgrade was noteworthy for a range of reasons including innovative engineering and work practices and the co-operation of customers, local government and the community.</p><p>“In just 84 hours, VEC’s construction crews completed some 103 individual tasks over seven continuous shifts”, White said. “Works included the removal of the original wrought iron girders of riveted construction and timber ballasted deck installation of new steel girders and concrete deck panels on the existing mass concrete piers and abutments.”<br /> </p><p><u><strong>Nod to industry on coal dust monitoring program</strong></u></p><p>Queensland’s transport and main roads minister Scott Emerson and environment and heritage protection minister Andrew Powell have welcomed the commitment by the Queensland Resources Council to start testing coal dust levels on the West Moreton line.</p><p>“I welcome the industry’s commitment to organising an independent monitoring program to test coal dust at a number of key sites,” Emerson said.</p><p>“The results of the testing will provide further insight into the coal industry’s environmental performance.</p><p>“Today I visited the Port of Brisbane to inspect the coal dust management process already in place as well as coal loading facilities.”</p><p>The Queensland Resources Council announced the first round of comprehensive monitoring would start in the first week of March.</p><p>Testing will be conducted at dedicated sites adjacent to the coal rail corridor at Oakey, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Tennyson, Fairfield and Coorparoo.</p>
