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ATEC is a long-standing advocate of the Australian Inland Railway Expressway, while Barclay designed and constructed the Alice Springs-Darwin Railway in a joint venture.
Barclay will work with ATEC during the next six months to complete a detailed business case for the Dawson Valley project, which is expected to cost $A775 million to complete.
ATEC will be responsible for work on contractual relationships with coal mines, rural producers, land owners and governments, while Barclay will concentrate on engineering plans, construction costs, environmental issues and financial arrangements.
ATEC chairman Everald Compton said his company invited Barclay to join the project due to its track record in delivering the Alice Springs-Darwin Railway ahead of time and within budget, despite difficult conditions.
“Barclay Mowlem’s experience and expertise, both domestically and internationally, will ensure the Dawson Valley Railway is built on schedule ready for use by 2009 when the Wiggins Island Coal Terminal will be opened in Gladstone,” Compton said.
The railway will service existing coal mines at Acland and Wilkie Creek, as well as new mines at Cameby Downs, Wandoan, Elimatta and Taroom.
ATEC is negotiating with Queensland Rail and the Australian Rail Track Corporation to upgrade existing tracks from Toowoomba to Wandoan, and Banana to Gladstone, to handle trains capable of moving 10,000 tonnes of coal on each trip to Gladstone.
This new railway will be dual gauge to form part of a national rail system linking Melbourne and Gladstone via Parkes and Toowoomba. It will also fill the missing rail link between Wandoan, north of Miles, and Banana, between Moura and Gladstone.
Barclay general manager of rail Bill Killinger said the Dawson Valley Railway was a pioneering venture that had the potential to create a national rail system through inland Australia and expedite the development of the nation’s resource industries.
