John Holland, CPB Contractors, AECOM and Metro Trains Melbourne have been awarded a $215 million contract for the first package of works on the $2.1 billion Sunbury Line Upgrade.
The package will extend platforms, boost accessibility and build new stabling at stations along the Sunbury Line.
Site investigations for the platform extensions and stabling upgrades will start later this month, with major works on the platform extensions and stabling to begin by the end of the year.
The Sunbury Line Upgrade will deliver platform extensions at every station between Sunbury and Footscray, wheelchair boarding platforms at 8 stations, traction power upgrades and improvements to train stabling at Sunbury, Calder Park and Watergardens.
The new trains will be 20% bigger than current trains on the metropolitan network, reducing congestion and carrying more passengers with every trip.
The Metro Tunnel will connect the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and the Sunbury Line, creating space in the City Loop for more services across Melbourne.
The bigger trains, together with the Metro Tunnel, will enable an extra 113,000 peak hour passengers on the Sunbury Line each week and reduce their journey times by up to 40 minutes a day.