$1b awarded for new trains and rail signals for Melbourne

A $1 BILLION package has been awarded for new trains and better signalling across Melbourne’s rail network, with claims from the State Government we can expect more services and trains on time.

A $1 BILLION package has been awarded to tram builder Bombardier and CPB Contractors as part of the $11 billion Metro Rail Tunnel.

Premier Daniel Andrews revealed the Rail Systems Alliance today, which will help roll out the high-capacity signalling trial and later be applied to the entire network.

Up to 65 new trains will be built in Victoria under the program, running on the Sunbury to Cranbourne-Pakenham line.

The current $131 million signalling trial will also be rolled into the new project, according to Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.

“This is the next major piece of the puzzle, hi-tech signalling to run bigger trains, more often through the Metro Tunnel,” she said.

The announcement comes only days after $6 billion in works was awarded to a consortium led by Lendlease who are to construct the twin 9km tunnels.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the high capacity signalling “means more trains, less waiting and services so often you don’t need a timetable”.

It is hoped once the project is finished trains on the network will run within two to three minutes of each other.

The announcement comes a week after a computer glitch brought Melbourne’s rail network to a halt causing peak-hour chaos.

Metro announced it will offer $4 in compensation to commuters for the epic train failure but only if they touched on.

The State Government is set to renew its contract with Metro which could see the provider running the train network for the next decade.

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