Melbourne, 5 October 2005
Siemens in Australia has today announced the delivery of 30 new train carriages to Connex Melbourne – six months ahead of schedule.
All 30 new train carriages will be in service on the Melbourne rail network by January 2006 with the entire fleet of 72 Siemens trains (216 carriages) in operation well before the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Siemens Executive General Manager Transportation Systems, Paul Bennett, said Siemens has achieved a single-deck success in Melbourne.
“Delivering major rolling-stock contracts on-budget and ahead of schedule is how Siemens has built a reputation throughout the world for reliability,” said Mr Bennett.
“Siemens has accelerated the train manufacture and commissioning program to ensure the entire fleet of trains will be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games.
“Siemens is proud to be a key contributor to the biggest single rolling-stock procurement program undertaken in Victoria’s history and we are now turning our sights to delivering this kind of success with single deck trains to Sydney under a proposed Public Private Partnership with Commonwealth Bank,” said Mr. Bennett.
“In addition to providing Melbournians with safe and reliable transportation, we are also very proud of the $100 million of local business content which has been awarded to Australian industry as a direct result of Siemens securing this contract.”
The first Siemens train entered service on the Melbourne rail network in March 2003 with the final carriages in the 216 carriage fleet to be in operation by January 2006.
Local businesses contributed over $50 million in materials and services to the Siemens train fitout program including air conditioning, static inverters, pantographs, seat cushions, CCTV, doors and hand rails. At least a further $50 million of business has subsequently been awarded to local industry for the supply of other Siemens train contracts in the United Kingdom and Taiwan.
The entire Siemens fleet has been designed with identical train operating features to facilitate the ease of driver training and to maximize fleet operating flexibility.
The stainless steel Siemens trains have advanced features including digital information displays and push-button operated doors, air conditioning, air suspended cars, two two-seat arrangements and priority seating for mobility-impaired passengers with improved wheelchair access.
Safety features include closed circuit television cameras, emergency intercom and interconnected carriages to ensure passenger safety and security as well as ensuring ease of boarding and alighting.The Siemens single deck rail solution has been implemented in a number of major cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei, Singapore, Sao Paolo, Puerto Rico, Vienna, Bangkok, Berlin, Madrid, Boston and now Melbourne.