The return of passenger rail to the Port of Adelaide is a step closer, after South Australian transport and infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan announced a $16.4 million contract on January 20.
Mullighan said the design and construct contract for the Port Dock Railway Line project had been awarded to a joint venture of McConnell Dowell, Mott McDonald and Arup.
The same alliance won the $174.3 million Oaklands Rail underpass project last week.
The Port Dock Railway Line project involves building a new one-kilometre rail spur from Adelaide’s Outer Harbor line at Junction Road. It also involves the construction of a new Port Dock railway station at Baker Street.
Mullighan said the project would support 48 jobs during construction.
“Our State Labor Government made a commitment to keep building South Australia and that’s exactly what we have been doing,” the minister said on January 20, a little under two months out from state election scheduled for March 17.
“Delivering this spur line will provide a fast and efficient new way to travel between the Adelaide CBD and the heart of the Port, catering to thousands of extra residents, workers and tourists coming to live, work and explore the district. They will be able to catch regular train services from a brand new, modern, safe and accessible Port Dock station when this new line is finished.”
Member for Port Adelaide Susan Close – another Labor MP – said Port Adelaide was being transformed into “a thriving tourist, commercial and residential precinct”.
“Bringing trains back to the port will play a huge role in encouraging more and more people to come here to visit or to live or work, and that will drive economic growth and encourage more investment in our area,” Close said.