Public Transport Authority signs electricity feeder station contract

17 September 2003

Western Power Integrated Network Services (WPINS) has won a $3.3million contract for the construction of an electricity feeder station at Beckenham.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said today that the feeder station would be a key element in the operation of the proposed railway spur line to Thornlie.

"The feeder will provide power to the new Thornlie line and supplement the Armadale line, from which the spur will run," Ms MacTiernan said.

The Thornlie spur was part of the PTA's $1.4 billion New MetroRail project, which included extensions and upgrades on the northern line as well as the new Perth-Mandurah line.

Earlier this year, the PTA negotiated with Western Power Corporation to provide the $2.8million in infrastructure needed for the supply of 132kv power from Western Power's Cannington sub-station to the feeder station at Beckenham.

The new Beckenham facility would take Western Power's 132kv feed and transform it down to 25kv for supply to the railway's overhead traction system.

Ms MacTiernan said WPINS was one of three tenderers, each of which had been through a pre-qualification process.

"WPINS will now start on the design process," Ms MacTiernan said.

"The contract is due for completion by September next year, after which there will be a period of commissioning.

"Other than some electrical generation components which are available only overseas, virtually all the elements of this contract will be sourced locally."