United Group on track with $45m contracts

<p>Engineering and services business United Group has secured two contracts valued at $45m.</p> <p>The first project will be a five-year contract extension for maintenance services to Great Southern Railway’s Ghan, Overland and Indian Pacific tourism rail services valued at $30m.</p> <p>A second $15m contract would involve the manufacture of 120 iron ore wagons for BHP Billiton Iron Ore.</p> <p>The projects were awarded to United Group’s 103-year-old railway manufacturing and maintenance business United Goninan and are expected to be completed by August 2003.</p> <p>The New South Wales Government has chosen United Goninan as selected tenderer to manufacture 14 diesel multi-unit (DMU) railcars to service the Hunter region for the NSW State Rail Authority.</p> <p>A further seven railcars could also be included in the final contract that is under negotiation.</p> <p>United Group managing director and CEO Richard Leupen said securing the contracts illustrated the group’s ability to maintain long term partnerships with key customers in the rail sector.</p> <p>"We have a successful track record of retaining contracts with our customers because of our reliability and ability to deliver maintenance and manufacturing projects on time and to budget," Mr Leupen said.</p> <p>"These projects are very positive for our South Australian and Western Australian operations."</p> <br />