Shortlisted bidders announced for Suburban Rail Loop stations construction

Three shortlisted bidders have been announced for the construction of the six new underground stations for Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East. 

This announcement builds on the recently awarded $1.7 billion Tunnels North contract to Terra Verde. 

The three alliances are: 

• Place Alliance – John Holland, Arup Australia Projects and Kellogg Brown and Root 

• Eastern Stations Precinct Alliance – Lendlease and WSP Australia 

• Connexus Alliance – CPB Contractors, Multiplex and GHD 

These alliances are bidding for two contracts. One is to build the stations at Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill, and the other is for the construction of stations at Cheltenham, Clayton and Monash. 

The first contract is set to be awarded in 2026, with the two remaining bidders to compete for the second stations contract. 

SRL East stations are designed to be fully accessible with inviting, light-filled spaces. The stations will feature elements inspired by the history of the local community and First Nations peoples. Sustainability is also at the heart of the design and each station will have a Green Star rating of at least 5 Stars. 

Early works are well underway at all six station sites, with about 1,500 people already working on the project. SRL East is estimated to create up to 8,000 direct jobs during its construction. 

“SRL East will open up access to key health, employment and education destinations in Melbourne’s east and south east, and will deliver direct train access for the first time to Monash and Deakin universities. 

“As Australia’s largest housing project, SRL will attract thousands of homes, jobs and services to the neighbourhoods surrounding the new stations. We’re doing the important planning now – in consultation with the community and local councils – to ensure they are vibrant places to live, work and study in the future,” according to a statement on Victoria’s Big Build. 

Suburban Rail Loop map (source: Victoria's Big Build)

The overall Suburban Rail Loop development will deliver a 90-kilometre orbital line that will provide a direct link to Melbourne Airport, helping relieve congestion on roads and other transport networks while connecting people to key destinations across the city. 

SRL is being delivered in four sections, namely: 

• SRL East – Cheltenham to Box Hill 

• SRL North – Box Hill to Melbourne Airport 

• SRL Airport – Melbourne Airport to Sunshine (delivered by Rail Projects Victoria) 

• SRL West – Sunshine to Werribee 

SRL East commenced construction in 2022 and this section is anticipated to begin taking passengers in 2035. 

The first four tunnel boring machines (TMBs) that will build the twin tunnels will begin arriving on site next year and with the two tunnelling contracts now awarded, works to build the tunnels are expected to start in 2026. 

SRL Airport is also under construction, with the project expected to be completed in 2029. 

Source: Victoria’s Big Build – Suburban Rail Loop (1, 2, 3); Infrastructure Magazine