By Casey Neill
Bombardier will play a key role in a $1 billion contract for rail works.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan announced on Tuesday 18 July that the Dandenong-based manufacturer and CPB Contractors would deliver the Rail Systems Alliance, which includes the first roll-out of a high capacity signalling (HCS) and communications system on an existing rail network anywhere in Australia.
The 55 kilometres of HCS is part of the Metro Tunnel project and will allow trains to safely run closer together.
The State Government will build dedicated control centres in Dandenong and Sunshine to support the new technology, which will enable trains every two to three minutes.
Mr Andrews said high capacity signalling meant more trains, less waiting and “services so often you don’t need a timetable – you just turn up and go”.
“It’s cutting edge technology that will get people home safer and sooner, every day,” he said.
Bombardier declined to comment on the announcement at this time, because it’s officially the “preferred proponent” at this point in time.
