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KBR is maintaining our strong foothold in the Australian infrastructure market by securing yet another Level Crossing Removal package to ensure the safety, liveability and efficiency of Melbourne’s rail network.  

KBR, as part of the North Western Program Alliance (NWPA), has been awarded the $844 million (AUD) Pakenham Level Crossing Removal package that will remove three additional railroad level crossings, upgrade the existing Pakenham station, build a new train station, and provide open green spaces for the local community located 50km northeast of Melbourne, Australia.

This is the seventh and largest work package to date for the alliance, which comprises of government authority Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), KBR, and construction partner John Holland. Thus far, the alliance has removed eight level crossings and built four new stations as part of the Victorian Government’s scheme to enhance safety and capacity and keep the city moving.

The project will elevate the rail line over three busy Pakenham roads using the innovative pre-cast U-Trough solution that was first introduced as part of the Mernda Rail Extension. Due to its flexibility and cost efficiency, the U-Trough solution is now a preferred option for elevated rail across all LXRP projects. As the most complex project for the alliance so far, the NWPA will design and construct 16km of new track to accommodate metropolitan, regional and freight train services with the Pakenham Line set to be extended by two kilometers to connect to the new East Pakenham Station, future-proofing the area for the growing population.

To maximize delivery efficiencies on the project, the NWPA will use digital tools and processes implemented and evolved on previous work packages throughout the last four years to enable stronger collaboration and more efficient stakeholder reviews, such as an integrated engineering document management system to streamline the design process.

Following the NWPA’s recent success in delivering the first 5 Star Green Star As Built Rating train station at Reservoir, the alliance plans to uphold this legacy for the Pakenham package by placing social and environmental sustainability at the forefront of the project. The design aims to improve livability through landscaped green spaces for the community to gather, exercise and play in as well as minimize climate change impacts by significantly reducing water and energy use during construction and operation. This enhanced focus on sustainability furthers our recent successes at Moreland and Coburg Stations where the alliance achieved a 59 percent water reduction over the infrastructure lifecycle and a 54 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

“This contract award is recognition of the NWPA’s collective achievements over the last four years to transform rail services across metropolitan Melbourne and leave a lasting, positive impact on communities and the environment,” said Wayne Nolan, KBR Vice President, Infrastructure Services Australia. “We are excited to have this opportunity to continue working alongside our alliance partners to provide sustainable solutions that enable the growing city of Melbourne to thrive for years to come.”

With construction already underway, the project will be completed in 2024.