Australian rail manufacturing and signalling leader Alstom has been announced as the successful bidder for the $1.5 billion contract to maintain Victoria’s regional rolling stock VLocity and Classic fleets for the next decade.
The VLocity train fleet, which is built by Alstom at its Dandenong manufacturing site, will be maintained alongside the classic fleet out of West Melbourne, South Dynon and Ballarat East sites securing hundreds of local Victorian jobs for the next decade.
Alstom Managing Director (Australia and New Zealand) Pascal Dupond said the company’s association with VLocity went back to 2003.
“On the 20th year of that association, I am humbled by the trust placed in us by the Victorian Government to continue the privilege of servicing VLocity trains for the next decade,” he said.
The award of the contract to Alstom locks in a number of benefits for the local Victorian economy. This includes 98 per cent of labour based in Victoria servicing the VLocity and Classic fleet with 69 per cent of maintenance materials supplied by local Victorian suppliers. Alstom has also committed to a 6 per cent spend with 40 local social benefit suppliers over the life of the contract.
“We will establish a fleet control centre in South Dynon, based on Alstom’s UK Voyager Control Centre which will further improve reliability and availability of the fleet. Local suppliers across Victoria will also play an important part in supplying parts, overhauls, repairs, preventative maintenance and wheel turning; the impact to the rail supply chain in Victoria will be profound”, Dupond said.
Additional predictive maintenance technology that Alstom will bring to the contract will also result in a reduction of fuel costs and carbon emissions from the VLocity and Classic Fleet.
“VLocity is without doubt a jewel in the crown of Victoria’s rail fleet. The technology, local knowhow, innovation and excellence that Alstom brings will enable the VLocity and Classic fleet to shine and continue to serve Victoria’s regions throughout this decade and into the next,” Dupond said.
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