Ballarat train builder Alstom has failed in its bid to build the State Government’s new High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) project.
Alstom was part of the Eureka Rail consortium, along with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and John Laing, tendering for the 65-train venture, forming part of the government’s Trains Trams Jobs 2015-2025 strategy..
As a bittersweet consolation, the government has announced Alstom will build another nine X’Trapolis trains. The trains have six carriages each, and bring to a total 19 trains ordered from the Ballarat builder.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allen acknowledged that Alstom would likely be disappointed in the tender outcome, which was won by a consortium comprising Downer EDI, Changchun Railway Vehicles and Plenary.
“I haven’t had that personal conversation with them; you could assume that’s how they were feeling,” said Ms Allen.
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