Victorian Suburban Rail Loop goes to market

The Victorian Government has opened the registration of interest (ROI) process for local and global firms to help deliver the Suburban Rail Loop.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the search is open to firms with a variety of capabilities including designers, engineers, rail systems providers, rail operators, rolling stock providers, investors, financiers and architects.

“The ROI will help government assess which organisations have the experience and capability to be part of the biggest transport investment ever undertaken in Victoria,” Mr. Andrews said.

“The Suburban Rail Loop will create tens of thousands of jobs during construction and will change the way we move around Melbourne forever, slashing travel times and getting you where you need to go.”

The Suburban Rail Loop will be a new rail network linking Melbourne’s middle suburbs – with new stations connecting major railway lines from the Frankston line to the Werribee line via Melbourne Airport.

“The transformational project will be the biggest transport investment undertaken in Victoria. It will change the way people move around Melbourne – enabling Victorians to get to major suburban employment, education and health precincts without having to travel in and out of the CBD,” Mr. Andrews said.

“The project will take thousands of passengers off existing rail lines and 200,000 cars off our major roads, it’s anticipated to also create more than 20,000 jobs during construction.”

The ROI announcement follows the commencement of an extensive stakeholder engagement process, focusing on stage one – the South East section between Cheltenham and Box Hill.

As detailed planning gathers pace, the state government will seek input from communities, local government, peak bodies and key stakeholders along the proposed corridor.

“We have started briefing local government stakeholders in the cities of Whitehorse, Monash and Kingston,” Mr. Andrews said.

“Further consultation will follow, as well as the beginning of site investigations – expected to start later this year – including ecology and geotechnical studies.”

General precincts and a broad alignment have been identified for the Suburban Rail Loop, but specific station locations are yet to be finalised.