MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – Fit-out has commenced on the first of Melbourne’s 65 new high-capacity metro trains at Downer’s manufacturing facility in Newport.
The $2.3 billion High Capacity Metro Trains project being delivered as a public-private partnership between Evolution Rail – the consortium comprising Downer, CRRC and Plenary – and the Victorian Government.
Four hundred and fifty-five car bodies will make their way through the recently upgraded Downer facility that will see up to 175 new local jobs created.
“These trains will be bigger and better than any existing fleet currently on the metropolitan network and include design features that make this a more accessible, comfortable and safer train,” said Phillip Walker, CEO, Evolution Rail.
“We’re building the trains using 60 per cent local content, much of which is coming from suppliers right here in Victoria. Overall the project will result in 1,100 jobs including throughout the local supply chain.”
Evolution Rail has invested in various programs to mobilise and train workers including dedicated apprenticeships that will help develop specialised rolling stock engineers. Former workers from the Victorian automotive industry have also been trained for the fit-out activities in Newport.
The detailed technical design process for the next generation trains included a 12-month stakeholder engagement and consultation program. This included practical evaluation by drivers, technical experts, the Public Transport Access Committee and Metro Trains Melbourne.
Passenger and accessibility groups, various government agencies and focus groups also participated with user feedback resulting in more than 150 enhancements to passenger features.
Key features of the HCMT fleet include more allocated spaces for wheel chairs and mobility devices, improved real time passenger information, a greater number of hand grabs and hand rails, and improved CCTV for increased passenger and driver safety.
Able to carry 20 per cent more passengers than the existing Melbourne metropolitan fleet, the new trains will enter service from mid-2019 on the Cranbourne-Pakenham lines, with the final fleet being dedicated to the Sunbury to Pakenham corridor, linked by the new Metro Tunnel.
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For further information please contact:
Nataly Matijevic, Evolution Rail +61 412 646 656 nataly.matijevic@evolutionrail.com
About Evolution Rail
The Evolution Rail consortium, that is made up of Downer, CRRC and Plenary, has been contracted by the Victorian Government, via a public private partnership, to deliver the High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) Project. The project includes the delivery of 65 trains that will be maintained by Evolution Rail for 35 years.
For more information about the project visit: https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-projects/high-capacity-metro-trains/
For more information about Evolution Rail visit: www.evolutionrail.com