Work has started on a new state-of-the-art train depot for Melbourne’s new bigger trains, which will create hundreds of local jobs in Pakenham.
The Victorian Government is building a cutting-edge facility to house and maintain its new fleet of high-capacity metro trains (HCMTs) in Pakenham East.
The new 118-hectare facility will include maintenance facilities, a train simulator and stabling for up to 30 trains.
It will be built with 87 per cent local content – creating 400 jobs during construction and supporting 100 skilled ongoing jobs once the facility is operational.
The depot will also provide skills and opportunities to young workers and those reskilling from other industries.
At least 15 per cent of the work carried out on the more than $2 billion HCMT project will be done by apprentices, trainees and cadets, and seven per cent of the workforce will be filled by workers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The 65 HCMT’s will all be built in Newport – creating 1,110 local jobs.
It’s part of the tens-of-thousands of jobs that will be created across Victoria by the Labor Government’s record investment in major transport projects.
This investment is already creating hundreds of jobs in Pakenham, building more than 2,000 huge concrete segments for the elevated line that will remove nine dangerous level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong.
The new Pakenham East facility will complete by the end of 2018, when the first of the 65 new HCMTs ordered by the Labor Government is due to arrive.
Premier Daniel Andrews said, “These state-of-the-art trains will be built in the inner west, stabled in the south east and create hundreds of jobs across Victoria.
“It’s part of our record investment in transport to create jobs and get people home safer and sooner, every day.”
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said, “The new depot will house and maintain Victoria’s new fleet of high-capacity trains, which will reduce crowding and create space for more passengers on our train network as Victoria grows.”
Member for Eastern Victoria Daniel Mulino said, “We’re investing in a better transport system for Victoria, and creating hundreds of local jobs right here in Pakenham.”
