A tender to design a future railcar depot, incorporating assembly and commissioning facilities for the new railcars, in Perth’s eastern suburb of Bellevue has been released.

An opportunity for a design firm to be involved in some of the infrastructure for the project, the tender forms part of a $1.6 Billion project to deliver 246 new railcars over the next 10 years.

The depot will support the maintenance and operation of the B-series railcars on the Fremantle, Midland and Armadale/Thornlie lines.

A pre-qualification tender has asked proponents to advise whether they have a suitable location for an assembly and commissioning facility in WA. In the event the preferred supplier does not, the Government will build and maintain ownership of the facility.

In supporting local WA companies and jobs, the pre-qualification rail tender also includes a local content target of at least 50% of the manufacturing and delivery of new cars.

Funding for the project has already been included in the railcar project cost.