THE Australian state of Victoria is seeking a new operator for the Melbourne commuter network from late 2027 when the current contract with Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) expires. MTM is a joint venture of UGL Rail, MTR Corporation and John Holland Group.
The state government says it is calling on “the most experienced transport operators from around the world” to bid for the new contract. The winning bidder will be responsible for operating and maintaining the commuter network, providing more than 2000 daily services across more than 1000km of track. The network also has seven train maintenance depots and more than 220 stations. MTM employs nearly 7000 people.
A registration of experience (ROE) process is set to commence this month, with interested parties subsequently invited to participate in the expression of interest (EOI) phase.
“The MR5 Train refranchise is an opportunity to raise the bar and deliver better outcomes for customers,” the Victorian government says. “This includes more reliable services, better customer experience, improved accessibility and more real-time data, as well as the flexibility to adapt and innovate for the future.”
MTM's initial eight-year contract with the Victorian government began in 2009, replacing the previous operator, Connex Melbourne. The contract was later extended with a further contract awarded in 2017.
The current contract, worth $A 6.3bn ($US 4.2bn), was due to expire at the end of 2024 but was extended until 2027.
While MTM is responsible for train operations, the infrastructure is owned by the state government via VicTrack and leased to Public Transport Victoria (PTV), which then sub-leases it to MTM.
