Andrews unveils $1.6bn Cranbourne-Pakenham project

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed the winning bidder to remove nine level crossings and rebuild five stations along the Cranbourne-Pakenham rail line in Melbourne’s south east.

A consortium including Lend Lease, CPB Contractors, WSP|Parsons Brinkerhoff, and Aurecon will carry out the work, which includes the construction of several sections of elevated rail lines and upgraded signalling along the corridor, one of Melbourne’s busiest.

Andrews has committed to remove at least 20 of the state’s most dangerous level crossings by 2018, and 50 by 2022.

He said the nine crossings – which together make up every level crossing between Caulfield and Dandenong – are some of Melbourne’s worst, with some boom gates down for more than 87 minutes of the two-hour morning peak.

The project will remove the crossings, and rebuild stations at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton and Noble Park.

Thirty station platforms along the line will also be lengthened to cater for the 37 new high-capacity metropolitan trains, which are currently in the process of being tendered, with three competing groups – led by Bombardier, Alstom and Downer EDI – currently on the shortlist.

In addition to the station rebuilds, level crossing removals and platform lengthenings, three sections of newly elevated rail along the line will create 225,000 square metres of community open space, which Andrews says will be reserved for new parks, playgrounds, sporting facilities, car parking and a range of other uses chosen by locals.

“Every single level crossing between Caulfield and Dandenong will become history,” Andrews said. “This tired and ugly rail corridor will become one of Melbourne’s largest community open spaces, with room for parks, playgrounds, netball courts and thousands of new car parks.”

Andrews says expert acoustic modelling shows that raising the line in sections will reduce rail noise at the street level.

He also explained that building new line above the existing line will spare passengers and drivers years of disruption during construction, with the majority of work being completed with trains and roads running normally.

Marcelino Fernández Verdes, chief executive of CPB Contractors’ parent company CIMIC Group, said the company was working to deliver sustainable transport solutions.

“We value the opportunity to contribute our experience to Victoria’s level crossing removals which are improving safety, reducing congestion and creating more connected communities,” he said.

CIMIC Group was until April 2015 known as Leighton Holdings. CPB Contractors is CIMIC Group’s construction subsidiary, and is the combination of Thiess and Leighton Contractors.

CPB Contractors managing director Román Garrido said the company was keen to stay involved in the rail space.

“Rail infrastructure delivery is a core capability for CPB Contractors,” Garrido said. “We are pleased to continue working with LXRA [the Level Crossing Removal Authority] and Metro Trains Melbourne to deliver greater rail network efficiency and a range of community and economic benefits.

“Our Alliance team integrates design, civil, building, track, electrical and signalling specialists experienced in delivering major projects safely within the live rail network.”

With community consultation underway since April, the next phase of consultation will now begin, with the project team set to speak with locals about what the new spaces should be used for.