GHD designed METRONET’s new Forrestfield-Airport Link

GHD was the lead design consultant to Webuild-NRW Joint Venture for the new Forrestfield-Airport Link in Perth - one of Western Australia’s biggest infrastructure projects. This 8.5 km extension of the existing urban rail network creates a new public transport corridor in the city’s eastern suburbs and the airport.

The Forrestfield-Airport Link (now known as the Airport Line) includes twin-bored tunnels under the Swan River, three new rail stations: Redcliffe, Airport Central and High Wycombe plus the creation of a grade-separated rail junction as well as rail-bus interchanges servicing suburbs in the adjacent areas.

GHD provided design coordination for the project and was responsible for the architecture, above ground structural engineering, structural engineering of base and intermediate slabs for the station boxes, all building services within the stations and tunnels, rail systems design and civil engineering. Architecture services were provided by GHD’s integrated design studio GHDWoodhead and Weston Williamson + Partners.

The Airport Central Station is the gateway for passengers arriving in Perth with a distinctive roof shape inspired by aerodynamics and a sun-filled atrium to ‘wow’ visitors. Redcliffe Station is located in a residential and light industrial area – its design highlighting local heritage and using skylights to bring sunlight down to the platform level. High Wycombe is the end of the line and an intermodal transport hub – featuring a roof that rises like a plane in take-off, earthy colours and a cladding of local Kimberley stone.

A virtual Building Information Model (BIM) used new and captured data that allowed clients and project teams to make more valuable and considered decisions. This reduced duplication, unexpected issues and clashes during design development. GHD also developed automated design processes for rail electrification systems and tracks.

Sheldon Krahe, GHD’s General Manager for Western Australia says, “We are committed to seamlessly connecting people – working with our clients to deliver infrastructure to meet the needs of the Western Australia community. The Forrestfield-Airport Link has the potential to significantly benefit the WA community and transition the way people travel to and from WA’s largest airport.”

Daniel Maher, GHD’s Airport Line Project Manager says “Working on one of the largest infrastructure projects that WA has seen in decades has been an incredible journey. The work our GHD team and partners have done on this landmark project will serve the WA community for well over 100 years.”

Ricardo Kiperman, GHDWoodhead Studio Director WA added “Working with Weston Williamson + Partners, this project allowed us to create highly visible stations that feature inspiring spaces to provide an attractive ‘whole of journey’ experience to maximise the utilisation of public transport. These landmark transport facilities will transform the local urban environment and become a catalyst for the future development of housing, jobs, and community services in the eastern suburbs of Perth.”

The consultant team also included Geodata, Coffey and Hitachi.

To find out more about GHD’s involvement on the project, visit our webpage.

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 160 offices located on five continents.