Major works on Suburban Rail Loop are another step closer, with 3 global industry leaders shortlisted for the tunnelling contracts on SRL East – a city-shaping project that will transform our public transport network, connect our suburbs and create thousands of jobs.
SRL East will deliver 26km of twin tunnels and 6 brand new underground stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill. Trains will be running by 2035, with an end-to-end trip of just 22 minutes.
Initial works on SRL East are already underway in Clayton and major works have been given the green light following a rigorous Environment Effects Statement (EES) planning process.
Tunnelling begins in 2026, with up to 10 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to be used to carve out the twin tunnels. The tunnelling task will be split into 2 separate contracts to ensure the work is done as efficiently as possible, minimising disruption to the community. These will be awarded from the shortlist.
SRL East has drawn extraordinary interest from the international construction market, with 5 outstanding bids for the tunnelling work. Three have now been invited to submit a detailed Request for Proposal.
- CPB Contractors Pty Limited, Ghella Pty Ltd and Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd – companies involved in Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, Sydney Metro, Vancouver's Broadway Millenium Subway and the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal.
- John Holland Pty Ltd and Gamuda Berhad trading as Gamuda (Australia) Branch – these companies have experience building Melbourne's Metro Tunnel, Sydney Metro Northwest Tunnel, Malaysia’s Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit, and Melbourne’s City Loop.
- Webuild S.p.A and GS Engineering and Construction Australia Pty Ltd and Bouygues – companies with experience in projects including the North East Link tunnels, Copenhagen’s Cityringen and projects in the Middle East and Asia.
The first contract will be awarded next year for twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley. The second is to construct tunnels between Glen Waverley and Box Hill.
Construction of SRL East will create up to 8000 local jobs, creating a pipeline of opportunity for our world-class construction industry and the next generation of highly skilled workers – with at least 10% of all hours to be worked by apprentices, trainees and cadets.