High Capacity Metro Trains Project

Supporting the State's objective of delivering a world-class public transport network, the High Capacity Metro Trains Project will deliver 65 seven-car trains for use on the Cranbourne Pakenham and Sunbury lines, and two dedicated maintenance facilities.

Project

High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) Project

Status

Contract Let

Department or agency

Department of Transport (formerly Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources)

Description

The public private partnership contract with Evolution Rail was executed in November 2016. The new trains will gradually enter passenger service on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. Longer term, they will run through to Sunbury following the opening of the Metro Tunnel. Passengers across the wider metropolitan rail network will benefit through the redeployment of existing trains to other lines.

The project also includes the delivery of a new train depot in Pakenham East (including a train maintenance facility, two simulators and a stabling yard), along with a service facility at Calder Park. These facilities will have the flexibility to cater for the future rolling stock maintenance needs of the corridor.

Associated infrastructure upgrades on the Cranbourne Pakenham and Sunbury lines will be separately delivered by the State. The project forms part of the Cranbourne Pakenham Line Upgrade program which collectively will create thousands of jobs and increase capacity, ease congestion and reduce travel times for the one million people living in Melbourne’s south-east corridor. 

Importantly, the project will provide an invaluable boost to local manufacturing  and related supply chains. Evolution Rail has committed to a fleet local content level of 60 per cent, with the entire fleet to be manufactured in Newport. In addition:

  • the maintenance facilities will comprise 87 per cent local content;
  • the contract will create 1,100 highly skilled local jobs, of which 15 per cent will be allocated to apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets; and
  • targeted partnerships with Toyota, Chisholm Institute and Swinburne University will transition workers from disadvantaged backgrounds, including automotive workers, across to the project.

The Evolution Rail consortium comprises Downer EDI, CRRC Changchun and Plenary.

Contact information

Website: High Capacity Metro Trains Project

Email: HCMTProject@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Related information

Tenders VIC - High Capacity Metro Trains Project Contract - 601675

Reviewed 26/05/2021
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