The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia operates the Perth urban rail network that consists of approximately 180 kilometres of electrified track and 71 stations. The metropolitan passenger rail network is currently serviced by two (2) types of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) railcars, known as the A-series and the B-series. The A-series consists of 2-car sets and the B-series of 3-car sets. As part of the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project, forty one (41) new 6-car EMU sets (known as the C-series) are being procured.

The Public Transport Authority also operates regional diesel rail fleets which service communities as far East as Kalgoorlie and South to Bunbury. The railcars used for the 'Australind' service to Bunbury are also being replaced with two new 3-car Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) sets as part of the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project.

The State Government nominated the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project as a "strategic project" under the Western Australian Jobs Act 2017 (WA). A key Project objective is the State Government's desire to maximise opportunities for Western Australian (WA) jobs, apprenticeships and Small/Medium Enterprise participation. To facilitate the above objective, the State Government announced Bellevue as the chosen location for the new multi-functional depot which will include:

a)            assembly and commissioning facilities for the C-series;

b)            a Traction Feeder Substation to provide high voltage power to the Bellevue Depot; and

c)            maintenance and stabling of the B-series and regional diesel fleets.

The Bellevue Depot site is bounded by Lloyd Street, Elgee Road, Robinson Road and the non-electrified railway.

The Bellevue Depot will include:

a)            a new Assembly Facility and High Voltage Testing Facility (constructed in 2021) which have been made available by the Public Transport Authority to the C-series railcar manufacturer (Alstom);

b)            a Traction Feeder Substation, to be constructed by UGL Engineering Pty Ltd with construction scheduled to occur from mid-2022 to Q2 2023;

c)            the New Railcar Maintenance Facilities which forms part of the scope of this Request for Tender and Project, and comprises delivery of:

i)             B-series Maintenance Facilities;

ii)            Diesel Railcar Maintenance Facilities;

iii)           Underfloor Wheel Lathe and Bogie Drop Table Building;

iv)           Bellevue Depot yard tracks and overhead line equipment;

v)            works associated with the closure of Robinson Road;

vi)           works associated with Cowie Court; and

vii)          works to relocate Arc Infrastructure’s Main Cable Route (MCR).

The Diesel Railcar Maintenance Facilities will include dual gauge and/or standard gauge track while the B-series Maintenance Facilities will generally include narrow gauge track.

For further details on the Scope of Work and Specification refer to Book 4 of the Request for Tender documents.