Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan today to announce that the Labor Government has increased its initial order of High Capacity Metro Trains from 37 to 65 seven-carriage sets. The new trains will begin arriving in 2018 and will immediately reduce congestion on the Cranbourne Pakenham line – Melbourne’s busiest.
“Victoria is growing and so are the number of passengers on using our train system, which is why we’re building Melbourne Metro Rail and ordering 65 new, high-capacity trains to carry more people, every single day.” Minister for Public Transport and Employment, Jacinta Allan commented “This is about passengers, jobs and the future of our train system. After four wasted years under the former Liberal Government – we’re getting on with it.”
Minister Allan explained that together with the removal of nine level crossings, rebuilding of five stations, and new power and signaling infrastructure, the new trains will boost capacity on the Dandenong rail corridor by more than 40 per cent, allowing 11,000 extra passengers in the peak. The announcement brings forward the second stage of metropolitan train orders set out in the Victorian Rolling Stock Strategy: Trains, Trams, Jobs: 2015-2025. The 455 carriages will be built in Victoria for Victoria, with at least 50 per cent local build requirement set to create up to 800 local jobs and support thousands across the supply chain.
“We’re making the biggest order of new trains in Victoria’s history to create local jobs, reduce congestion on Melbourne’s busiest line and make the most of Melbourne Metro Rail from day one.” Premier Daniel Andrews commented “These 455 new carriages will be built in Victoria, for Victoria – boosting the capacity of the network and creating hundreds of long-term Victorian jobs.”
Premier Andrews said that the 65 new trains will be longer and able to carry more people with each trip. They will run on the new cross-city line Melbourne Metro Rail will create, and enable 39,000 extra passengers to catch the train in the peak. This investment – expected to be around $2 billion – will also include High Capacity Signalling on every train, and the expansion of the train depot in Pakenham announced as part of the original order last year.