Technical advisors appointed for Melbourne Rail Link and western section of East West Link
VICTORIAN Roads and Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder last week announced the appointment of Technical, Planning and Engagement Advisors for the Melbourne Rail Link and the western section of the East West Link.
Aurecon Jacobs Mott MacDonald (AJM) Joint Venture has been appointed as the Technical, Planning and Engagement Advisor for Melbourne Rail Link, while GHD has been appointed as the Technical, Planning and Engagement Advisor for the western section of the East West Link.
Mr Mulder said that the appointments represented a critical milestone in the planning and design of the multi-billion dollar projects.
The Minister said the AJM Joint Venture have worked on some of the most complex transport projects in Australia and internationally, including London’s CrossRail and Auckland’s City Rail Link, as well as the Southern Cross Station redevelopment and Sydney’s North West Rail Link.
“Melbourne Rail Link will create the essential additional capacity for more trains in the core of the network and East West Link – western section will deliver the vital alternative to the West Gate,” Mr Mulder said.
The Melbourne Rail Link was announced by the Victorian Government in its 2014-15 State Budget as a replacement to the previously proposed Melbourne Metro tunnel between South Kensington and South Yarra stations.
The Melbourne Rail Link includes twin tunnels from Southern Cross to South Yarra stations and new underground stations at Fishermans Bend (Montague) and Domain. It also includes the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, connecting Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross Station and the Cranbourne-Pakenham corridor.
“It will transform our network into an international style metro system similar to London or New York, with key interchange stations and dedicated, separated metropolitan train lines,” Mr Mulder said of the project.
Mr Mulder said the appointment of GHD for East West Link will allow the project team to begin the next stage of planning and design for the western section of the project.
“The Australian Government has provided $3 billion to the East West Link project, including $1.5 billion for the western section, in recognition of the importance of this project in improving transport connections for Victoria,” he said.
Source: News Release, Urbanalyst, 11 November, 2014