WA - Federal rail funding

[ozbob]

PerthNow --> WA confident in PM's rail funding pledge

Western Australian government has submitted business cases for the first stage of the Metronet rail project, testing the prime minister's promise to fund the major proposal

Independent body Infrastructure Australia has received the business cases for a 13.8 km Joondalup rail line extension to Yanchep in the city's north and the 17.5km between Thornlie and Cockburn, which Mr McGowan says will be complete by late 2021.

"Obviously there's a lot of work to be done," he said.

The WA government secured $1.26 billion for its multi-billion dollar flagship project after the federal government backed down on its refusal to redirect funding from the now-defunct Perth Freight Link, which was cancelled amid public protests over wetland clearing.

The funding will also be used on 16 new roads and upgrades, creating an estimated 6000 jobs.

The Turnbull government's change of heart was viewed as a political move to calm voter anger over WA's GST shortfall.

"We're pretty confident Malcolm Turnbull will keep to his word and deliver funds for these two projects," transport minister Rita Saffioti said.

Mr Turnbull also pitched a so-called cities deal during his recent visit west, suggesting a model under which local, state and federal governments work together on road and rail projects, housing, services and job opportunities using an agreed timetable and plan.

Ms Saffioti said her government would need to see WA's share of the deal before signing up to the concept.

"The idea of just signing a piece of paper without any real benefit for WA, we're not keen to do that. We need to see real benefits, real dollars on the table," she said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/899673964166823937

[Stillwater]

Bet they got the business case right first time, not have to redo it four times as the scope of the project changed constantly, a la CRR.  And they probably used BCR calculations more in line with the IA guidelines.