Stories

Rapid population growth places immense pressure on infrastructure networks that can struggle to keep up with increased demand. One of Australia’s fastest-growing regions is the Byford area – around 37 kilometres (23 miles) south-west of Perth, Western Australia – whose population is expected to double by 2036.  

To support the region’s rapid growth, the Western Australian Government has just delivered an 8-kilometre (5-mile) rail extension that links the people of Byford directly to the city centre, the METRONET Byford Rail Extension. KBR is proud to have helped deliver this milestone project, in conjunction with Laing O’Rourke, Colliers and the Public Transport Authority (PTA), as part of the MetCONNX alliance.

Transforming communities

The METRONET Byford Rail Extension connects local communities to the Perth CBD with a congestion free 46-minute journey. The project includes a new Byford train station with 400 parking bays, a new elevated station built in Armadale with 200 parking bays, plus the removal of seven level crossings. Works also included two new road over rail bridges, eight hectares of new public open space through the rail line elevation, and eight kilometres of new shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

As part of the alliance, KBR delivered concept and detailed design work for the rail line, new stations and level crossings. Using a people-first approach, the stations were designed to ensure a smooth, safe, and user-friendly experience for passengers. This extended from the station layout to the landscaping and exteriors, which include natural canopies for sun protection.

Applying a proven digital delivery framework, the design teams used the latest building information modelling (BIM), digital modelling, and virtual reality technologies to create an interactive virtual environment. This enabled all alliance partners to work together seamlessly, while also giving project stakeholders a powerful, immersive experience to test operationalisation and identify improvements prior to commencing construction.

What we do in transport

KBR has a reputation for applying our technical and logistical know-how to plan, design and deliver end-to-end technical solutions for some of the nation’s most complex urban and regional rail projects. Projects like the METRONET Byford Rail Extension deliver enormous benefits to communities, providing safer, more reliable and more sustainable transport options, helping people get where they need to go, faster.

To learn more about KBR’s work in transport infrastructure across rail, road and maritime, visit Who we are - Transport