EOIs process for Stage 1 of VIC Suburban Rail Loop now underway

The delivery of Victoria’s largest rail project, the Suburban Rail Loop, is moving forward with Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the first phase of works on Stage 1 released to market. 

The Initial and Early Works package will involve upgrading roads and power supplies; construction of a new sub-station; relocation and protection of utilities; ground improvements; and site preparation works across Melbourne’s south-east to make way for Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). 

Several of Australia’s leading construction companies have shown interest in delivering this huge package of works following their registration in the pre-qualification process. 

The EOI process will close on 29 January 2021. More information can be found on the Suburban Rail Loop website. 

Initial and early works are expected to create up to 800 direct jobs, while major construction is anticipated to generate approximately 20,000 jobs. 

“This is the biggest transport project in Victorian history and it will transform our state forever – we know that the best construction companies want to be a part of delivering it. 

“We said we’d get on and deliver Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop and we’re not wasting a second – this early phase of construction is going to create hundreds of local jobs and make this huge project a reality,” Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan said. 

Proposed alignment of Suburban Rail Loop (source: Suburban Rail Loop)

In November, $2.2 billion was committed through the Victorian Budget 2020/21 to get the procurement process started as well as buy land required for the TBM launches and facilitate the delivery of six new underground stations. 

Suburban Rail Loop is a 90-kilometre rail network that will link every major rail line from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via the airport. The project will also deliver three transport super hubs at Clayton, Broadmeadows and Sunshine that will connect to the Loop. 

Once completed, the new rail line will cut travel times and make more areas accessible to all Victorians no matter where they live. 

Stage 1 alignment and proposed station locations (source: Suburban Rail Loop)

The first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop will provide connections to Melbourne’s growing health, education, retail and employment precincts in the south east – between Cheltenham and Box Hill – via a 26-kilometre twin underground rail tunnels. 

Proposed locations for new train stations to be delivered under Stage 1 will include the starting point of the new rail line near Southland, adjacent the Monash and Deakin universities, at the heart of Box Hill and Glen Waverley, and a major transport hub north of Carinish Road in Clayton that will connect commuters to Suburban Rail Loop. 

Future stages of the project will extend the line through Melbourne’s northern suburbs to Melbourne Airport and around to Werribee. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Suburban Rail Loop (1, 2); The Flinders News; Yahoo! News