The public transport authority (PTA) of Western Australia has received transaction advisors (TA) bids for the new Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL) project in Perth.

The TA will assist the PTA during the FAL project's transaction phase and potentially provide continuity services during the project's delivery phase.

The FAL project team has recently completed the business case and project definition plan. Cabinet has approved funding for the project and work is now underway to prepare the tender process.

The project will connect Forrestfield to the city with a new train line. It will open up the eastern suburbs to the rail network for the first time and give Perth airport users a five-minute faster option than by car. Connecting with the existing Midland line near Bayswater Station, the majority of the rail link will be tunnelled underground to ensure minimal impact on the existing land and road network.

The request for expressions of interest (RFEOI) is set to be issued in early 2015. The projects is expected to be awarded in mid 2016 and the new facilities are scheduled to be operational by mid 2020.

The project aims to  provide a quick and efficient connection between Forrestfield and the city, and to promote connections onward to tourism centres, such as Fremantle. It also aims to reduce car dependency and relieve traffic congestion, therefore improving productivity and the available capacity of the road network.