Works to deliver the state-of-the-art Brisbane Metro depot - adjacent to the South East Busway - at School Road, Rochedale in Queensland is ramping up, marking a new major milestone for the $944 million Brisbane Metro project.
“Construction is underway and this work will continue throughout 2020.
“The Metro project will revolutionise the way Brisbane people travel by doing away with the need for timetables,” Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said.
With a tender already announced for the delivery of a fleet of fully-electric Metro vehicles, the design for the depot is being finalised as well to include charging infrastructure for the vehicles.
The new depot will provide:
“The depot will be the base for an initial fleet of 60 new electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, maintenance and staff facilities. There is also capacity for future growth at the School Rd location as the Brisbane Metro system expands.
“This is a major infrastructure development which is expected to start next year and take two years to build, in time for the delivery of the full Metro vehicle fleet,” Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
The Brisbane City Council is currently finalising the procurement process for the design and construction of the new depot, with the Request for tender anticipated to be released in mid-2020 and the contract awarded by mid to late 2020.
This project is expected to create approximately 165 jobs during construction and over 185 jobs once operational.
According to Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta, local commuters are excited to see the new Brisbane Metro in operation.
“Brisbane Metro will have four stops in my electorate of Bonner and I have no doubt once completed we will see thousands of commuters embracing this new public transport infrastructure.
“This project is expected to provide significant benefits right across the Brisbane CBD and Brisbane’s southern suburbs,” Mr Vastas said.
As part of the multi-million dollar Brisbane Metro project, intersection upgrades have already been completed at the corner of Peel and Merivale Street and Peel Street and Cordelia Street in South Brisbane as well as at Skew Street and Upper Roma Street in the CBD.
In addition, the 60 new Metro vehicles are being delivered by Volgren and HESS. The first manufacture vehicles will be housed at Volgren’s Eagle Farm workshop, which will allow for trials and testing to commence in local operating conditions. The first vehicle is set to arrive this year for trial and testing.
With this project, an extra 40 jobs will be created in Brisbane for fit-out and maintenance of the fleet once they have been delivered.
Flash charging technology will be available at the end of each route to enable vehicles to recharge in just six minutes, making travel by Brisbane Metro safer and quicker with no tailpipe emissions.
Preliminary works on the $944 million Brisbane Metro project will begin in early 2020, around the Cultural Center.
The first stage of Brisbane Metro will include a 21-kilometre service that connects 18 stations along dedicated busways between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street as well as Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and University of Queensland. Stage 2, on the other hand, will expand services to Carindale in the South East and Chermside and the Airport in the North.
This project is jointly funded by the Brisbane City Council and Australian Government, with the latter committing $300 million.
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Source: Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure; Brisbane City Council (1, 2); Mirage News