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The Government of Victoria (Australia), through Public Transport Victoria, has selected the Evolution Rail consortium as preferred bidder for the Melbourne for the High Capacity Metro Trains PPP project.

The project includes the delivery of 65 new high capacity trains being built in Victoria over the next six years, and the construction of new maintenance facilities in Pakenham and Calder Park.

With a capacity to carry at least 1,380 passengers, including 26 allocated wheelchair spaces, the next generation designed trains are based on a proven and award winning A-Type platform, currently operating in fleets on Hong Kong’s world-acclaimed MTR rail network.

The Evolution Rail consortium comprises:

• Downer Group: Delivery and maintenance lead, fleet manufacture joint venture partner, investor
• CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles: Design and technology lead, fleet manufacture joint venture partner, investor
• Plenary Group: Commercial and financial lead, asset manager, investor.

In November 2015 we reported that two teams besides Evolution Rail had been shortlisted to carry out the project. These shortlisted teams were:

• Bombardier - comprising Bombardier Transportation Australia, Macquarie Bank, ITOCHU and Infrared Capital Partners
• Eureka Rail - comprising Alstom, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and John Laing

The new fleet will be built at Downer’s Newport railyard in Melbourne’s west, which will receive a AUD$16 million (US$12.4 million) upgrade. 

Downer CEO Grant Fenn said:

 “The new train sets will be purpose-built for Melbourne and will be among the world’s best in terms of design, comfort, safety and capability”.

“Evolution Rail will deliver more than 60 per cent local content through engagement with Victorian regional and metropolitan businesses across the supply chain.”

“Downer’s investment, alongside the training and transfer of technology from the world’s largest rolling stock manufacturer in CRRC, will transform Victoria’s manufacturing industry and provide long term opportunities for Victorian businesses to become part of a global supply chain.”

“The manufacturing and delivery program is made possible by the extraordinary engineering resources of CRRC, coupled with Downer’s local manufacturing capability in high-skill, precision engineering and assembly.”

Plenary Group Chairman John O’Rourke said: 

“Evolution Rail is proud to be part of the Victorian Government’s transformation of Melbourne’s train network”.

“We are optimistic about the Andrews Government’s transport infrastructure agenda and with this project set out to demonstrate the value-for-money outcomes that can be achieved from a competitive PPP (public private partnership) process.”