Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop east section awarded to TransitLinX Alliance for transformative rail project

Credit: Alstom

The Suburban Rail Loop Authority has awarded a 4.9 billion euro (8.8 billion Australian dollars) contract to the TransitLinX Alliance, consisting of Alstom, John Holland, KBR, WSP and RATP Dev, to deliver the eastern section of Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop. The project represents Australia’s largest rail and housing infrastructure initiative, creating a 90-kilometre orbital rail line through Melbourne’s middle suburbs. The first stage, SRL East, spans 26 kilometres and six underground stations located near major employment, education and health precincts.

The contract covers the design, construction, integration and maintenance of state-of-the-art rail systems, including automated metro trains, signalling, communications, cybersecurity and electrification. The alliance will also deliver stations with platform screen doors, operational infrastructure and full system integration to ensure high reliability and efficiency.

The Suburban Rail Loop is expected to transform public transport in Melbourne, cutting travel times, boosting connectivity and supporting urban growth. The eastern section will connect key middle-suburban precincts, providing faster, safer and more sustainable travel options for commuters. The project also underpins local jobs, skills development and a significant supply chain, with manufacturing, maintenance and operational facilities based in Victoria.

“This contract award further deepens our partnership with the Victorian Government to deliver the rail transport priorities of the state with leading rail industry partners,” said Pascal Dupond, Managing Director of Alstom Australia and New Zealand. Ling Fang, Alstom’s Asia-Pacific Region President, added, “This project is of global significance in its ambition and scale, and Melbourne joins the ranks of other leading cities in deploying advanced rail passenger solutions.”

Construction will include assembly of automated metro trains, integration of advanced signalling systems and delivery of a full maintenance programme to support operational efficiency and safety. The project will introduce driverless trains, the second such fleet in Australia following Sydney’s Metropolis metro. Planned operations and maintenance facilities in Heatherton, Melbourne, will ensure long-term reliability.

The Suburban Rail Loop is a key infrastructure investment that will enhance Melbourne’s urban mobility, connect communities, and provide sustainable transport solutions for decades to come. Work on SRL East will set the benchmark for subsequent stages of the loop, delivering modern transport solutions with a focus on innovation, safety and passenger experience.