Not all METRONET construction contracts are complex rail projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Now open for tender is the $50 million railcar assembly and maintenance facility, to be built in Bellevue.

A builder is being sought for the 180m-long main building, which will include offices, workshops and storage areas to support the 246 new C-series railcars to be built there.

The facility will be fitted out when the contract with Alstom is finalised later this year , and will include two overhead cranes capable of lifting 25t each, and one heavy maintenance railroad with a crane which can lift 10t, all of which is currently out to tender.

The winning construction bidder, who will be appointed in late 2019, will also be required to build a secondary high-voltage testing building.

The 246 new railcars (41 six-car sets) includes 102 railcars to service METRONET projects and 144 to replace the ageing A-series fleet. While the final design and features of the railcars will be determined with Alstom, they will need to meet a target of 50 per cent local content.

Final contract negotiations with preferred proponent Alstom are under way, with the tender expected to be awarded in November.