Passenger Rail, Rail Supply, Signalling & Communications, Technology and IT

Platform screens for Metro Tunnel as $1bn signalling deal goes to market

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says new high-capacity signalling will allow the five underground stations along the Melbourne Metro Tunnel to have platform screen doors.

Andrews and public transport minister Jacinta Allan announced expressions of interest are now being sought for the Metro Tunnel Project Rail Systems Alliance.

As part of an Alliance with government agencies, the winning bidder for the contract will deliver up to $1 billion of signalling, communications and other related systems on the multi-billion-dollar Metro Tunnel.

The contract will also cover new signalling on the existing Sunbury line and Cranbourne/Pakenham line, which will be combined once the Metro Tunnel is complete.

High-capacity signalling technology will be trialled using X’Trapolis trains on a section of the South Morang line.

This will enable a more seamless roll out of the technology in the future, Andrews and Allan said on Thursday.

“Next-generation signalling will be tested with the newest trains on the network, and rolled out ahead of the Metro Tunnel, so it’s ready for the new network we’re building,” Allan said.

Andrews added: “The Metro Tunnel’s advanced signalling will deliver more trains, more often, and help create 3900 jobs.”

The premier said he is expecting EoIs from all over the world for the massive contract. The EoI period ends on Thursday, June 23.

The Tenders VIC website suggests interested parties “form consortia that have the requisite experience, capability and capacity to deliver the Rail Systems Alliance works”.

The tender process is being conducted by the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority, the government authority responsible for the delivery of the tunnel project.

2 Comments

  1. Of course, platform edge doors go hand in hand with driverless trains but they wouldn’t be allowed to do that by the railway unions.

  2. It’s happening in Sydney with the Sydney Metro so I don’t see why it won’t happen in Melbourne too. It is proven technology used all over the world.