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Sydney Light Rail Extension contract awarded

John Holland will be responsible for the main infrastructure elements of the five-and-a-half kilometre extension, which will largely follow the alignment of a former freight line from the existing light rail terminus at Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill.

The contract includes the delivery of nine new light rail stations, the power and signalling systems and bridge works that form part of the A$176 million Inner West Light Rail Extension project.

The NSW Government says it believes light rail will play an important role in the future of public transport in Sydney.

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said, “From the outset, the Government has been working to secure the place of light rail in Sydney‘s transport mix.

“Within our first 100 days, we incorporated light rail into the MyZone ticketing system and in our first budget, we committed funds to not only build the light rail extension from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill but to develop a strategic plan for light rail in Sydney.

“These actions, along with the purchase of the existing light rail line in March and the awarding of this contract today make it clear the NSW Government is serious about providing an integrated and customer-focussed new transport option for Sydney.”

Preparatory and geotechnical investigations are expected to start next month with completion of the project scheduled for 2014.

A review of the two short-listed tenderers to provide the new rolling stock for the extension, Bombardier and CAF, is currently still under way.&nbsp