Premier

Shortlist For New High Capacity Trains For Melbourne Revealed

09 November 2015

The shortlist of bidders to build Melbourne’s new fleet of 37 new high capacity trains has been revealed.

Minister for Public Transport and Employment, Jacinta Allan, today announced that three consortia headlined by local manufacturers have been selected for the next phase of the tender process.

They are:

  • Bombardier – comprising Bombardier Transportation Australia, Macquarie Bank, ITOCHU and Infrared Capital Partners
  • Eureka Rail – comprising Alstom, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and John Laing
  • Evolution Rail – comprising Downer EDI, Changchun Railway Vehicles and Plenary

The shortlisting follows a rigorous Expression of Interest process, which delivered an extremely high standard of responses from train builders around the world.

The Andrews Labor Government’s strict local content requirements mean rolling stock manufacturing must take place in Victoria.

Each of the three shortlisted bidders include Victorian manufacturers, which means the 37 new trains will create local jobs and grow this high-skilled local industry.

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.

The High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) Project is the largest investment in new rolling stock in Victorian history.

It forms part of the Labor Government’s rolling stock strategy Trains, Trams Jobs 2015-2025, a ten year plan for 100 new metropolitan trains, 100 new trams, and a massive expansion of the regional train fleet.

The HCMT Project is being procured as a public private partnership and also includes a new train maintenance depot in Pakenham.

The project is expected to create up to 800 jobs during train manufacture and construction of the depot, and 200 ongoing jobs in train maintenance.

The shortlisted parties will be requested to submit a formal proposal in the second quarter of 2016. The tender process is expected to be complete before the end of 2016, with the first train to be delivered for testing in late 2018.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport and Employment, Jacinta Allan

“Melbourne is growing and more people are choosing to catch the trains – that’s why these new bigger, better trains are critical.”

“The shortlisted bidders will build the best trains for Victoria and our strong local content requirements mean they will create local jobs and boost the Victorian economy.”

“The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with delivering better public transport and creating local jobs.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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