Ghella Marks Entry into the State of Victoria with the Signing of the Suburban Rail Loop East Tunnelling Contract
12-12-2023
Melbourne, 12 December 2023
Ghella has officially signed the contract with the Victorian Government to deliver the first major tunnelling package on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project in Melbourne - Australia, as part of the Suburban Connect consortium, alongside CPB Contractors and Acciona.
The package will construct a 16-kilometre section of the project’s 26-kilometre twin tunnels, including tunnelling between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, two new underground station boxes and construction works at the Southern Stabling Yard, the critical first step in the city’s public transport network transformation.
Ghella’s Australian Managing Director, Marco Fontana, said “This milestone holds great significance for Ghella as it signifies our inaugural venture into the state of Victoria. With our extensive global experience, we are excited to join forces with our long-standing partners, CPB and Acciona, on this project that promises to bring a profound and positive impact to the residents of Melbourne through critical transport connections."
Tunnelling is set to begin in 2026, with four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to be used to carve out the 16km twin tunnels for this stage of the tunnelling.
The project will reduce travel times and congestion, connecting Victorians to key employment, health and education destinations in Melbourne’s east and southeast, with a journey from Cheltenham to Box Hill taking just 22 minutes.