Thursday, 4 October 2018

Workers in the Latrobe Valley are helping to power the Andrews Labor Government’s bigger and longer trains.  

Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll today visited Times Electric Australia in Morwell, which is making the traction system for Melbourne’s 65 new High Capacity Metro Trains. 

The Morwell facility is creating new employment opportunities for locals, with a number of staff transitioning from previous roles in forestry, coal-fired power, construction and aviation.

The facility has already created jobs for 16 local workers, in a variety of roles ranging from manufacturing and logistics through to administration.  

The traction system made in Morwell propels the train using motors, gearboxes and invertors, while the electrical auxiliary systems power the train’s internal lighting and air-conditioning and provides emergency power when overhead line power is not available.    

Once the systems are complete, they are then sent from Morwell to Newport where the trains are being assembled and fitted out.  

The Labor Government’s $2.3 billion HCMT Project is the single largest order of trains built in Victoria, engaging local suppliers and businesses from across Victoria – generating around 1,100 jobs.

The trains will start running on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines from mid-2019 – for more information on the High Capacity Metro Trains Project visit transport.vic.gov.au/biggertrains. 

 Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll  

“We’re building the state’s largest single order of new trains in Victoria – creating new jobs for regional Victorians.”   

“We said we’d support workers in transition in Latrobe Valley and that’s exactly what we’ve done through the High Capacity Metro Trains and countless other projects.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing  

“We’re guaranteeing more local work than ever before on our major projects and helping transition workers into new and emerging industries.”

“We’ll continue to stand with the Latrobe Valley to make sure locals get their fair share of work on the state’s multi-billion pipeline of infrastructure projects.”