John Holland has been awarded the $570 million contract to deliver the City to Maribyrnong River section of Victoria’s Regional Rail Link project. The project will be delivered under an alliance contract, with construction partners Abigroup and Coleman Rail and design partners AECOM and GHD. John Holland will join with the Regional Rail Link Authority, Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) and V/Line to design and construct a key section of the first major new rail line for metropolitan Melbourne in 80 years.

The Regional Rail Link project will separate regional trains from metropolitan trains in the Melbourne train network for the first time. Under this contract, the alliance will construct a new bridge over the Maribyrnong River, as well as two new regional railway tracks to separate city bound and regional trains. The scope of works also includes track reconfiguration and upgrades to the North Melbourne rail-over-rail flyover.

John Holland Group Managing Director, Glenn Palin, said the project provides an opportunity to leverage existing relationships and the business’s intricate knowledge of the Melbourne transport network.

“John Holland is a proud Victorian company and has a history of delivering major rail upgrade works in the Melbourne network, including recently completed projects at South Morang, Lynbrook and Cardinia stations,” he said.

“The delivery team brings together our skills in technical engineering and rail construction, highlighting our traditional strength in civil infrastructure and current position as the largest rail contractor in Australia. We are excited to be part of this important project, which will deliver lasting economic benefits to the state and a large number of new employment opportunities.”

Richard Stewart, General Manager, Rail Australia, said the contract provides the opportunity for John Holland to build on existing relationships with the Victorian Department of Transport, Metro Trains Melbourne and client, the Regional Rail Link Authority.

“Our existing relationships with the coordinating authorities and the network controller will assist with a smooth transition toward project delivery and the development of a program of works that will minimise disruption and accelerate the safe delivery of the project’s major components,” he said.“The award reflects the engineering solution developed by the alliance team and commitment to working closely together toward the delivery of a world-class piece of rail infrastructure.”

Construction will start in mid-2012, with completion expected by 2016.