The Victorian Government has taken another major step toward building the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), naming Place Alliance as the preferred consortium to deliver the first underground stations at Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.
Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Harriet Shing said the consortium, made up of John Holland, Kellogg Brown and Root, and Arup Australia, has extensive experience with large-scale infrastructure, including the Metro Tunnel, Sydney Metro, WestConnex and Inland Rail.
Detailed negotiations will now begin with Place Alliance ahead of the formal contract award next year. Two other shortlisted bidders, Connexus and ESPA, will compete for the second contract covering Cheltenham, Clayton and Monash stations.
The new SRL stations are being designed as light-filled, fully accessible spaces that will include retail and dining options and incorporate design features reflecting local history and First Nations heritage. Each will achieve at least a 5 Star Green Star sustainability rating.
Once complete, the SRL will connect seamlessly with Melbourne’s existing public transport system, including new and upgraded bus and tram interchanges, as well as walking and cycling paths. The network is expected to make it easier for Victorians to live near jobs, universities and services, with new housing and precinct development planned around each station.
Travel times across Melbourne’s suburbs are expected to improve substantially. A nurse from Carrum working at Box Hill Hospital will save around 17 minutes by train, while a student studying in Caulfield will be able to reach Glen Waverley in just 22 minutes. Students travelling from Laverton to Deakin University will save nearly 20 minutes compared with driving.
Construction of the SRL is creating up to 8,000 direct local jobs, with more than 3,000 people already on site preparing for the arrival of tunnel boring machines later this year. The project remains on time and on budget, with tunnelling set to begin next year.
Minister Shing described the SRL as “a nation building project that will slash travel times and cut congestion for busy families—while delivering 70,000 more homes within walking distance of jobs, healthcare, and Australia’s largest universities.”
Local MPs have also welcomed the progress. Member for Ashwood Matt Fregon said, “The new SRL station at Burwood will not only create faster and easier access to Deakin University, but it will also deliver homes closer to jobs and services.”
Member for Box Hill Paul Hamer added, “The Suburban Rail Loop will transform Box Hill into one of Melbourne’s most connected precincts—delivering faster travel and more jobs to our community.”
Member for Glen Waverley John Mullahy said the project “will strengthen our local economy and make it easier for people to live, work and study right here in the east.”
The SRL’s first stage continues to advance as one of Victoria’s most ambitious transport projects, linking key education, employment and health hubs while shaping Melbourne’s long-term urban growth.
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