Construction of the Bellevue railcar facility, where the first locally made railcars in almost three decades will be assembled and maintained, is now underway.

Subiaco-based FIRM Construction was awarded the $46 million contract to build the multi-functional assembly and maintenance facility, as well as a secondary high-voltage testing building.

The new facility will include a 180m-long building with a railcar assembly area, offices, workshops and storage areas, two overhead cranes able to lift 25t each, and a heavy maintenance railroad with crane capable of lifting 10t.

The WA Railcar Program represents the biggest order of railcars in WA's history. Over the next 10 years, Alstom will deliver 246 new-generation C-series railcars (102 for METRONET projects and 144 to replace the ageing A-series railcars), as well as six diesel railcars to replace the Australind. While design and features are still to be finalised, they have been set a target of 50 per cent local content, boosting jobs for WA workers.

Stage one of the Bellevue facility is expected to be complete in 2020, with the first C-series railcars expected to go into service in 2022.

L-R Premier Mark Mcgowan, Minister for Transport, Planning Rita Saffioti, Minister for Police; Road Safety Michelle Roberts