Engineering, Passenger Rail, Rail Supply, Workforce, Certification & Training

Vic’s next-gen trains released to market

The Andrews Government has called for expressions of interest for the design, construction and maintenance of a next generation, high-capacity train for Melbourne.

The announcement is part of a $1.3 billion investment in 37 new high-capacity trains, which will be rolled out to the city’s Cranbourne-Pakenham line, Melbourne’s busiest.

Together with the removal of every level crossing between Dandenong and the city, and upgraded signalling, Andrews says the Cranbourne-Pakenham project will add capacity for 11,000 extra passengers every morning, an increase of 42%.

The Victorian premier was joined on Monday by minister for public transport Jacinta Allan, who said the release of the EOI invitation was a significant milestone in the future of public transport in Victoria.

Allan explained the new trains will be longer than existing trains – able to carry more people with every journey – and will use the latest technology, making them safer, more reliable and more comfortable for passengers.

“These trains will be built in Victoria, for Victoria,” she said. “The EOI represents what this Government is all about: local jobs, skills and better public transport.”

The state is demanding that at least 50% of the construction of the trains is done locally, with companies required to demonstrate how they will boost local employment, training and investment through the delivery of new trains for Melbourne.

Minister for industry Lily D’Ambrosio said the focus on local content would drive growth in the local supply chain, and support high-skill, high-value manufacturing in Victoria.

“This is the first time any Victorian Government has made local jobs, skills and investment a central part of rolling stock procurement,” D’Ambrosio campaigned.

“We’re supporting local manufacturing by making sure trains that carry Victorians are built by Victorians, and support Victorian jobs.”

The 37 new trains are part of the Labor Government’s rolling stock strategy, Trains, Trams, Jobs 2015-2025, which outlines a ten year plan for 100 new trains, 100 new trams and a significant boost to the regional train fleet.

An industry briefing will be held on 6 July 2015, and the EOI period will close in August 2015.