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Article: Plan to privatise airport rail link

Started by colinw, July 05, 2011, 12:42:32 PM

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colinw

The West Australian -> click here

QuoteThe much vaunted rail link between Perth Airport and the central city could be delivered as an entirely privately financed and operated project, the latest report by the Federal Government's peak infrastructure body reveals.

Infrastructure Australia's annual update of projects of national significance says it has been involved in discussions with the WA Government to "advance plans and develop a robust business case" for a private rail link in the context of a broader examination of the Gateway WA airport roads project.

The report says there may be scope "for the provision of a rail link with private project proponents and the establishment of an appropriate equity vehicle".

Such a private infrastructure delivery model would be a first for WA, which has previously publicly funded and operated Perth's road and passenger rail network.

The private model has been used for airport links in other parts of the world including Sydney's Airport Link, which was built for the 2000 Olympic Games and continues to be privately owned and operated.

Under a private model, investors stump up funds to build infrastructure, sometimes in conjunction with the taxpayer, in return for the right to collect fare revenue.

A private operator would likely charge prices well above fares on the rest of Perth's train system, with the link operated separately to the Transperth network.

It is understood discussions between Infrastructure Australia and WA transport officials have been held at an officer level within the respective departments.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell, who last month publicly floated the idea of an airport rail link, said the Government did not have plans to for a private proponent.

"However, we are currently working on finalising the details of a potential rail alignment from the city to the airport," he said.

"This work is necessary to ensure appropriate future planning is undertaken and that future infrastructure provision is consistent with the longer-term plans for the project."

The Gateway project, first costed at $600 million in 2009, is now expected to cost $955 million, according to the Infrastructure Australia report.

A spokeswoman for Mr Buswell said its scope had been revised after the initial estimate.

The report has backed putting Federal money into the State Government's Pilbara Cities project, saying mining activity and employment demand was straining economic and social infrastructure.
It also says the troubled Oakajee Port development, beset by cost blowouts and uncertainty about its feasibility, remains one of Australia's most important projects.

Zoiks

Private ownership could work... with strict regulation.
Maybe a limit on the fares, minimum service levels etc

somebody

Never heard of a proposal for a Perth Airport line before.  Does it have much chance of getting implemented?

I understand Perth has the worst Domestic-International terminal transfer arrangements in the country, so perhaps improving that significantly is a benefit of this plan.

SurfRail

Quote from: Simon on July 05, 2011, 18:07:57 PMNever heard of a proposal for a Perth Airport line before.  Does it have much chance of getting implemented?

I don't think the government has ever seriously had any planning carried out, but the airport itself has.  There seem to be 2 options:


  • Divert from the Armadale/Thornlie line with a spur through the Belmont area; or
  • Divert from the Midland line with a spur from Bayswater via Tonkin Hwy

I think the Midland option is preferred.

Ride the G:

colinw

Midland line offers more capacity, as it only has the 4TPH Midland service.

Armadale line is already carrying 8TPH as far as the junction of the Thornlie spur.

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