RANBURY A PART OF $3 BILLION SEQIP RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE

SEQIP Rail was a program of major rail infrastructure upgrades throughout South East Queensland’s passenger rail network and formed part of the State’s overall South East Queensland Infrastructure Program. The SEQIP rail team was responsible for the delivery of approximately $3 billion in rail infrastructure through a number of alliances established with major contractors and engineering houses.

The alliance groups were:

• Trackstar Alliance (Beerwah Rail Crossing, Corinda to Darra for additional two tracks and station upgrades, Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication and station upgrades, and Robina to Varsity Lakes rail extension and new station).
• Horizon Alliance (Darra to Springfield – new passenger rail line and stations), including new major arterial road link from Darra to Springfield.
• S2K (Salisbury to Kuraby – third track and upgrade of seven stations on the Beenleigh line).

Other project components undertaken by QR included the Michelton to Keperra duplication.

The challenges faced by the SEQIP team were considerable. Government required rapid progress in areas of major urban infrastructure expansion and upgrading, in an environment of resource shortages and time criticality. The decision to use alliance contracting was based on a strategic procurement analysis with a good understanding of which contracting model was most likely to best deliver value for money against business case objectives. This included effective management of safety rail operations and achieving cost effective and design solutions and construction methodologies.

Ranbury’s involvement commenced from the very early planning stages of this program, providing high level strategic procurement advice and then transitioning into a commercial management role to facilitate the selection and establishment of the alliances, as part of SEQIP.