South-West. John Holland wins rail contract

The John Holland Group has been awarded the contract for the next phase for the $2.1 billion South West Rail Link project, with construction well underway and already supporting 1500 jobs. Work is expected to start work in early 2011. The contract includes construction of an 11.4 kilometre rail line between the existing Glenfield station and East Rossmore, two new stations at Edmondson Park and Leppington, a train stabling facility at East Rossmore. The link is expected to be completed in 2015, with rail services integrated into the CityRail network by 2016.

Auburn. Property sold for $1.7 million

A private investor has bought a near new, freestanding industrial facility in Auburn for $1.7 million The property incorporates a factory/warehouse facility with an attached showroom area and first-storey office. The total net lettable area is 1,272 square metres. The property is situated in an established industrial precinct which was close to the Regents Park train station and Dexus’ Regents Park Industrial Estate. Michael O’Neil, of CB Richard Ellis, the property has been subsequently leased to Triple 000 Transport.

Region. Fast train slows other trains

Expert analysis has found the proposed Western Express, a fast train service between Western Sydney and the CBD, could cause havoc with interstate and country trains, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Rail industry experts said the plan to run up to 24 services an hour during the peak periods on the main western line could crowd out CountryLink services, including XPT and Explorer trains, which serve regional NSW, Brisbane and Melbourne. These trains could be stranded outside stations on the edge of the metropolitan area because there would not be enough room for them on the network during peak hour. The Daily Telegraph reports that RailCorp is preparing for a $1 billion order of up to 460 hi-tech trains for the project.