Final preparations are underway at Hofmann Engineering’s Bendigo facility ahead of the commencement of bogie frame manufacturing for Melbourne’s new High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMTs).
Commencing in August 2018 and continuing until the expected completion of the last train in 2023, Hofmann Engineering will build 900 bogie frames for the HCMTs, creating 30 local jobs.
“Bogie frames haven’t been built here for almost 20 years – we’re building world class trains and trams, and supporting local jobs throughout Victoria,” premier Daniel Andrews said.
“These bigger, better, trains will move more people and create more than 1,100 jobs for Victorians throughout the supply chain.”
Sixty-five of the 160-metre, 7-carriage trains (with a capacity of 1100 per train) are being assembled in Downer’s Newport manufacturing facility, following the delivery of components – including carriage shells – from Changchun, China, where they have been constructed by the Evolution Rail joint-venture between Downer, Plenary Group, and Changchun Railway Vehicles (CRRC).
The $2.3 billion train construction project will see 60 per cent of the total content provided from Victorian companies, such as Hofmann Engineering.
Traction and electrical systems will be made in Morwell and key electrical components and pantographs will come from Hallam in Melbourne’s south-east.
The HCMTs, the first of which are expected to arrive Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in mid-2019, will become the primary fleet for the Metro Tunnel when it opens in 2025.
The first train is to undergo testing in November 2018.
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