Alstom has won a major contract worth around €900 million to maintain Victoria's regional rolling stock, particularly the VLocity and Classic fleets, over the next ten years. This contract confirms Alstom's ongoing commitment to the Victorian rail industry, where it has been a major player since 2003. The maintenance work will be carried out in Victoria at the West Melbourne, South Dynon, and Ballarat East sites, securing hundreds of jobs in the region for the next decade. In addition, the contract promises to create new employment opportunities within the local rail industry.
Pascal Dupond, Alstom's Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, emphasized the importance of the contract in maintaining the high service standards of the VLocity trains manufactured by Alstom at its Dandenong site in Melbourne.
Alstom's approach to the project includes a commitment to the local economy, with 98% of the labor for maintaining the VLocity and Classic fleet based in Victoria. In addition, 69% of maintenance materials will be sourced from local Victorian suppliers. Alstom also plans to spend 6% of its spend with 40 local community suppliers over the life of the contract.
One of the key highlights of this contract is creating a fleet control center in South Dynon, inspired by Alstom's Voyager control center in the UK. This initiative aims to improve the reliability and availability of the fleet. Dupond notes that local suppliers throughout Victoria will play a vital role in the supply of parts, overhauls, repairs, preventive maintenance, and wheel turning, which will have a significant impact on the rail supply chain in the region.
