Victoria's government has opened the EOI (Expressions of Interest) for the Initial and Early Works package of Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop project. According to the government, the Suburban Rail Loop project is the biggest transformation of public transport in Australian history – a new underground rail network circling Melbourne’s suburbs.

The Suburban Rail Loop will connect every major train line from the Frankston line all the way to the Werribee line through Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations.

As you can see in the image (a screenshot from Department of Transport video), currently Melbourne's rail-based transport system follows a 'star' model (in the image, the grey lines show the existing lines). Every single line goes through the city's CDB (central business district) causing unnecessary congestion as well as loss of time. Suburban Rail Loop project (on the same image as the green line) will change that.

Government claims the Suburban Rail Loop is the only project that will slash congestion across the entire transport network – expected to take thousands of passengers off existing rail lines, and 200,000 cars off the major roads.

Media release of the government over the EOI:

Suburban Rail Loop Works Out To Market

The Andrews Labor Government has opened Expressions of Interest for the biggest ever Initial and Early Works package on an infrastructure project in Australian history.

Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan today announced that interested parties are being sought to deliver the first phase of construction on Stage One of the Labor Government’s state-shaping project.

The huge package of works will see roads and power supplies upgraded, new sub-stations built, utility relocations and protection, ground improvements, and sites across Melbourne’s south-east prepared to make way for massive Tunnel Boring Machines.

After registering in the pre-qualification process, some of Australia’s leading construction companies have signalled interest in delivering this program of works – which will create up to 800 direct jobs, ahead of the creation of up to 20,000 jobs during the project’s major construction process.

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 invested $2.2 billion to kickstart this procurement process, buy the land required for the TBM launches and facilitate construction of the six new underground stations.

The Suburban Rail Loop is a critical investment in Victoria’s long-term liveability, and will support Melbourne’s continued growth to a global city of up to nine million people by 2050.

The project will connect Victorians to more services than ever before – whether they live in Melbourne’s suburbs or in the regions, the Suburban Rail Loop will cut travel times, make more areas accessible to everyone and allow people to work closer to where they live.

Stage One will connect our growing health, education, retail and employment precincts in Melbourne’s south east between Cheltenham and Box Hill, via 26-kilometre twin underground rail tunnels. Future stages will see the line continue through Melbourne’s northern suburbs to Melbourne Airport and around to Werribee.

The proposed locations for the Stage One train stations include the starting point of the line near Southland, adjacent to Monash and Deakin universities, in the centre of Box Hill and Glen Waverley, and a major transport hub to be created north of Carinish Road, Clayton, connecting regional passengers to the Loop.

The EOI closes at 2PM on 29 January, 2021. For more information, visit  suburbanrailloop.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan

“This is the biggest transport project in Victorian history and it will transform our state forever – we know that the best construction companies want to be a part of delivering it.”

“We said we’d get on and deliver Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop and we’re not wasting a second – this early phase of construction is going to create hundreds of local jobs and make this huge project a reality.”