Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian today announced a major milestone has been reached on the $8.3 billion North West Rail Link with two proposals formally received for the contract to operate the new rail line.

The two consortia shortlisted earlier this year for the Operations, Trains and Systems (OTS) contract both successfully lodged their proposals today with Transport for NSW on how they plan to run the rail link – the first stage of Sydney’s new rapid transit network.

The two proposals will be assessed before the NSW Government awards this multi-billion dollar contract in the second half of next year.

“The North West Rail Link has reached another important milestone today, as we get on with the job of building this important project,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The cream of the crop from across Australia and around the world have put a massive amount of work into these proposals – to ensure we deliver the best project for our customers,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“I thank the teams from both consortia for their hard work and congratulate them.

“The project is on time and on budget and the first tunnel boring machine will be in the ground by the end of next year.”

The two consortia, made up of almost 30 companies from across Australia and around the world, are (in no particular order):

• Northwest Rapid Transit – MTR Corporation (Australia), John Holland, Leighton Contractors, UGL Rail Services, Plenary Group; and

• TransForm – Serco Australia, Bombardier Transportation Australia, SNC-Lavalin Capital, McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust), John Laing Investments, Macquarie Capital Group.

The OTS contract includes:

• Building the eight new railway stations;

• Delivering the commuter car parks for 4,000 cars;

• Supplying the new generation rapid transit single deck trains;

• Building and operating the stabling and maintenance facility at Tallawong Road;

• Installing tracks, signalling, mechanical and electrical systems;

• Converting the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link for the new rapid transit system; and

• Operating the North West Rail Link – including all maintenance work.

The OTS contract will be delivered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP), subject to value-for-money criteria being met.

The OTS contract is one of three major contracts to deliver the North West Rail Link:

• A $1.15 billion tunnelling contract was awarded in June this year to deliver Australia’s longest rail tunnels – 15km twin tunnels from Bella Vista to Epping. The first tunnel boring machine will be in the ground next year; and

• The contract to build the 4km elevated skytrain from Bella Vista to Rouse Hill and other surface works is expected to be awarded before the end of this year.