Rail patronage rose again in the first quarter of 2022 as people continued to return to the network following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. Read more
Transforming the everyday for 150 years
Global technology company Siemens owes its formation to the genius of its founder, Werner von Siemens. Read more
Feedback sought on Parramatta Light Rail stage 2
The New South Wales Government is inviting western Sydney locals and stakeholders to have their say on the Parramatta Light Rail stage 2 preferred route, as well as 15 stop locations between Camellia and Sydney Olympic Park. Read more
Rail privatisation contract may be terminated
South Australia Premier-elect Peter Malinauskas is yet to confirm if he will move to end the $2.1 billion rail network privatisation contract signed by the Marshall Liberal government. Read more
Ground-breaking work at new intermodal terminal
Construction has commenced on the new Interstate Intermodal Terminal at Moorebank Logistics Park in Sydney’s southwest – the first of four modern and interconnected terminals which will enhance Australia’s supply chain and drive freight efficiencies between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Read more
Australian content requirement for Parramatta Light Rail
Australian manufacturing content will now be a requirement for Stage 2 of the NSW Parramatta Light Rail Final Business Case to ensure infrastructure projects lift local economies and create new jobs onshore. Read more
New country rail headquarters in Orange
UGL Regional Linx’s (UGLRL) new headquarters has been officially opened in Orange by Acting Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole, and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway. Read more
Rail on right track to net zero
Over the 45 years to 2016 Australia’s rail freight has increased more than 10-fold to 414 billion tonne kilometres, largely influenced by the growth of bulk commodities such as iron ore and coal. Read more
Engineering a construction career
“At nearly 50 metres long and weighing 191 tonnes each, the beams were lifted by three cranes, a 400-tonne crawler and 400 and 500-tonne all-terrains. It was like my own personal episode of Megastructures and definitely a major career highlight.”
This is how Laura Barnes, Senior Project Engineer for WA’s METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link, describes her experience installing seven of the largest bridge beams ever fabricated in Australia. Read more
Art portal to the past and present
Patterns from the past painted in eye-catching pops of colour, and Jurassic-sized hand painted flowers, make Perth’s newly opened Claremont Station underpass feel more like a walk-through art gallery than a connection between Gugeri Street and Claremont Crescent.
Created by local artist Jennie Nayton, the 400 square metre vibrant mural is a tribute to Claremont’s history and the community-chosen theme of Heritage Reflections from Past to Present – and a very bright example of how public art can create a connection to place and celebrate local identity.
“Public art enlivens areas and creates points of distinction, with the location becoming a unique landmark for the area,” she said.
“I hope the mural inspires a feeling of familiarity and recognition with local residents, and brings a sense of joy to people passing through. I am very proud to have been a part of a large-scale public art project such as this.”
The underpass has been constructed as part of the METRONET Claremont Station Project, and inspiration for the mural stemmed from Claremont’s historical buildings that are far more than just bricks and mortar.
They’re more like pages from a history book, with Nayton capturing their historic content through photos of patterns on the federation style pressed tin ceilings, cast iron features, Art Deco tiling and plaster facades that grace the buildings.
The next step was to pair these patterns with images of flowers from local parks and gardens and apply them to the grey walls of the underpass in a rainbow of colour using mediums and techniques like router cut powder coated aluminium, stencil murals, hand-painted murals, brush work and plain painted walls.
The underpass public art project is an example of how METRONET’s Public Art Strategy is creating points of interest, landmarks and destinations; animating public spaces and building place identity; and supporting the professional and emerging local arts sector.