The Victorian Government has kicked off a recruitment push for drivers to operate the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig the Metro Tunnel beneath Melbourne’s CBD.
Premier Daniel Andrews on March 5 said six trainee drivers would be hired from across Victoria, with recruitment beginning this month and candidates to begin training in May.
Training will use a TBM simulator designed to provide a computer-generated replica of the control panel inside a TBM, and recreate the geologies and operating conditions beneath the surface.
“We’re recruiting Victorians to polit these machines because we’re putting Victorian workers first,” Andrews said. “These machines will operate like huge underground factories, with highly skilled operators working around the clock to build the Metro Tunnel.
Trainees will work under tunnels and stations contractor Cross Yarra Partnership, comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital, with Metro Trains providing technical, service and operational advice.
Metro Tunnel’s first tow TBMs will be launched from North Melbourne midway through this year.