Press releases

2018/12/20

CAF CONSORTIUM SECURES PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL CONTRACT IN NEW SOUTH WALES (AUSTRALIA)

CAF has been awarded the Supply, Operate and Maintain contract for the Parramatta Light Rail Project (Stage 1), as part of the Great River City Light Rail consortium, including CAF Rail Australia and Transdev Australasia.

For the Parramatta Light Rail Supply, Operate, Maintain contract, CAF will supply thirteen 7-module URBOS Light Rail Vehicles, as well as the systems and their integration, which includes the traction system, substations, signalling system, communications and control centre for the project. CAF’s scope also includes the design and construction of the Stabling and Maintenance facility and the above ground fit out of 16 light rail stops. This work will be subcontracted to the global engineering company Laing O’Rourke.

CAF has a significant holding in Great River City Light Rail, the consortium which will operate and maintain the Parramatta Light Rail (Stage 1) network for a term of eight years, with the possibility of extension of up to a further 10 years.

For the CAF Group, the contract amounts to approximately €300M and services to commence operation in 2023.

Parramatta Light Rail is one of the New South Wales Government’s latest major infrastructure project being delivered to serve a growing Sydney and Greater Parramatta and drive economic development. Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia with a two-way track spanning 12 kilometres and include 16 light rail stops. The route will link Parramatta’s Central Business District and Parramatta Interchange to the Westmead Precinct, the new Bankwest Stadium, the new Powerhouse Museum and Riverside Theatres cultural precinct, the private and social housing redevelopment at Telopea, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, and three Western Sydney University campuses.

The 13 light rail vehicles supplied by CAF are equipped with the GREENTECH system with lithium batteries that will allow the vehicles to operate without the overhead line in some sections of the route. They will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, providing a fleet of light, modern and extremely comfortable vehicles, 45 metres in length, with the capacity to transport approximately 300 customers each. They will be fitted with priority seats and support items for the disabled and elderly people. The audio and screen systems installed on the light rail vehicles will provide customers with real-time journey information, making the route more comfortable for customers.

CAF’s history in Australia began with the incorporation of a subsidiary CAF Rail Australia in 2010. CAF Rail Australia was awarded its first Australian contract in 2012 to Transport for New South Wales to supply an initial six URBOS light rail vehicles, and then an additional six, as well as their initial maintenance. These 12 URBOS light rail vehicles currently operate on Sydney’s Inner West Light Rail.

In 2016, CAF was awarded again by Transport for New South Wales to supply six light rail vehicles fitted with the GREENTECH system for Newcastle Light Rail. The Newcastle network will start operating in February 2019 and will be the first completely catenary-free line in Australia. This year, as part of the Canberra Metro Consortium, CAF entered into a contract to supply 14 light rail vehicles and their maintenance for a 20-year term for the first Canberra Metro light rail line.

For more information on the Parramatta Light Rail project, visit parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au