PTA awards $8m contract

The Public Transport Authority has awarded Rail Systems Australia a contract over a high-capacity signaling project to replace a Transperth rail network system.

Systra Rail Systems, also known as Rail Systems Australia, won the state government’s tender for communications-based train control systems services.

The contract has an estimated value of $7.7 million, according to Tenders WA.

The high-capacity signalling project comprises a new automatic train control system for increased service frequencies, to meet the projected demand, PTA said on the tender.

Under the contract, Rail Systems will provide specialist support to PTA's project management engineering team including automatic train supervision and providing technical advice.

The PTA expected to commission the early automatic train supervision system by mid-2027, tender documents show.

The first anticipated passenger service operation is proposed to start by mid-2029 with the project to be completed by 2033.

SYSTRA ANZ acquired Perth-based Rail Systems Australia in late 2023.

As Rail Systems Australia, the company has worked with the PTA over design studies, supervision of execution and commissioning of signalling, communication subsystems, operational engineering, the management system and assurance since 2021.

Its work with the PTA includes systems service with the Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook train line, which opened in December.