Bogie frames facility at Hofmann Engineering in Bendigo, Victoria, undergoes final preparations ahead of full manufacturing of the high capacity metro trains (HCMT) commencing in early August. Hofmann Engineering’s Bendigo facility currently supports the Loddon Mallee’s rail and defence capabilities.
“Bogie frames haven’t been built here for almost 20 years – we’re building world class trains and trams, and supporting local jobs throughout Victoria. These bigger, better, trains will move more people and create more than 1,100 jobs for Victorians throughout the supply chain,” Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Here, CRRC will soon begin the production of HCMT fleet, which is based on company’s A-type platform, currently operating in fleets on Hong Kong’s world-acclaimed MTR rail network.
CRRC is part of Evolution Rail consortium, also comprising Downer EDI Limited and Plenary Group, which won the USD 1.7 billion contract for the supply of 65 new high capacity trains being built in Victoria.
The contract will run until the last train is delivered in 2023, also delivering 87 per cent Victorian local content. The first High Capacity Metro Train will be ready for testing by the end of the year. Melbourne’s next generation seven-car trains will progressively enter service from mid-2019, operating first on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, and longer term will run through the new Metro.
Built with 60 per cent local content, the trains are made with more local content than any other project of this kind in Australia, with traction and electrical systems made in Morwell and key electrical components and pantographs in Hallam in Melbourne’s south-east.
Manufacturing on the High Capacity Metro Train started at Newport in Melbourne’s west last week.
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