Leighton wins AUS 152 million rail contract

Leighton Contractors and the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will construct the AU$ 152 million (US$ 127 million) Hunter Valley Rail corridor in an alliance following the signing of an agreement to create the Upper Hunter Valley Alliance.

In alliance with ARTC, Leighton Contractors will undertake all civil and track works in accordance with the ARTC 2009 - 2018 Hunter Valley Corridor Capacity Strategy from Singleton to Muswellbrook (Upper Hunter 1) and Muswellbrook to Werris Creek (Upper Hunter 2). Leighton Contractors will be supported by sub-alliance partners Parsons Brinckerhoff, Coffey Geotechnics and KMH Environmental.

The work, which will be divided into two packages, includes construction of the Nundah Bank Track triplication - a third track approximately 8 km long to be laid at Nundah Bank and commissioned by 30 April, 2012; and the Drayton Junction Upgrade - programmed to be completed by 31 November, 2010.

The work also includes construction of the Werris Creek By-Pass - the re-instatement of the full line to Gap and establishment of a triangle connection to provide an effective by-pass of Werris Creek to be commissioned by 31 December, 2010; the Scone Yard Reconfiguration - to be commissioned by 31 December, 2010; new Passing loops at Braefield; Quipolly; Quirindi; Wingen; and Koolbury; and extention of the Passing loops at Parkville and Murrurundi to cater for longer trains.

Expansion of the Hunter Valley Rail corridor is designed to increase the coal carrying capacity of the Hunter Valley Rail network.