70 High Capacity Metro Trains. Delivered.

01/07/2024

The 70th and final High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT) has now entered passenger service marking the completion of the largest single order of trains in Victoria’s history.

The HCMTs are not only the most inclusive and accessible trains on Victoria’s network, they are also the first new train design in nearly 20 years, have 20% more capacity than any other train and are the only ones to have High Capacity Signalling to support Metro Tunnel when it opens.

“I am incredibly proud to have contributed to the delivery of Melbourne’s HCMTs along side a wonderful team,” said Natalie Bond, General Manager, Metro Passenger Fleet.

“This is truly a team effort, with extensive collaboration and engagement with various stakeholders. I want to thank every individual involved across the supply chain whose capability and effort has been instrumental in delivering the fleet.”

The HCMT fleet is truly Melbourne’s train with 1,100 jobs created and $800 million invested in the Victorian supply chain.

The trains started in Melbourne’s West at Downer’s Newport Rail Facility where they were assembled, before moving east to our Pakenham depot.

“These trains truly are Melbourne’s bigger, better trains,” said Stephen Furlong, Executive General Manager – Operations.

“For seven years, our Newport Rail Facility was home to over 200 people who manufactured the bogies, wheel and assembled the fleet. Every three weeks, the team was able to assemble a seven-car set across eight stations, before it was hauled to our Pakenham East Depot for testing and commissioning. 

“I couldn’t be prouder to have been apart of the team to deliver a world-class fleet right here in Melbourne,” he finished.

Over the seven years to manufacture the 70 trains, the project has gone from strength-to-strength, with achievements such as:

• Starting as the largest single order of trains in Victoria's history with 65. The State later increased the order to 70 trains. 
• Becoming the only train on the Metro Melbourne network to feature First Nations livery. 
• Introducing High Capacity Signalling to support the Metro Tunnel. The HCMTs are the only trains to operate through the Metro Tunnel, the only trains on the network to be fitted with High Capacity Signalling, and this is also the first time this signalling has been integrated with an existing signalling system on a network anywhere in Australia. This signalling means the trains can safely move closer together allowing for more frequent services.
• Winning the Leader of Rolling Stock and Public Transport Award at the Victorian Manufacturing Awards in 2023. 
• Being recognised as the most accessible train on Victoria’s network. 
• Seeing our Pakenham East Depot awarded Environmental and Sustainability Excellence at the Australian Rail Industry Awards in 2022.

With the 70-train HCMT fleet now servicing the passengers of the Cranbourne-Pakenham and Sunbury lines, the Downer team will undertake the long-term maintenance of the fleet at our award winning Pakenham East Depot. 

This project was delivered by the Evolution Rail consortium comprising Downer, CRRC Changchun and Plenary.

More information

The HCMT fleet features:

• 70 seven-car trains that can be reconfigured within a fortnight down to six-car sets or up to 10-car sets.
• Capacity for 1,380 people – 20% more than any other train on the network.
• 28 spaces for wheelchairs and other mobility devices in each seven-car train.
• Additional headroom for guide dogs, automatic ramps and gangway barriers to help those with vision impairment, multiple grab handles—which serve to make the fleet the most accessible and inclusive on the Melbourne Metro Network.
• Improved real-time information through dynamic route maps and passenger information displays
• 60 per cent local content in the trains.

The Pakenham East Depot features:

• Maintenance capacity for 80 trains, which is the largest maintenance facility in Australia.
• Victoria’s only test track, allowing for testing that doesn’t disrupt the network
• 90 per cent local content through the construction of the Pakenham East Depot, their long term maintenance centre
• Awarded Environmental and Sustainability Excellence at the 2022 Australasian Railway Industry Awards. 

Learn more about our HCMT train fleet on the dedicated project page: Melbourne’s most accessible train