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Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan to announce the shortlisted bidders for the $6 billion Public Private Partnership (PPP) to build the biggest public transport project in Victorian history:

• Continuum Victoria – comprising ACCIONA Infrastructure, Ferrovial Agroman, Honeywell, Downer EDI and Plenary Origination
• Cross Yarra Partnership – comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital
• Moving Melbourne Together – comprising Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors, Ghella, Salini Impregilo, Serco and Macquarie Capital

The Metro Tunnel will create 4,700 jobs and free up space in the City Loop to run more services in and out of the City on lines across the network, benefiting passengers across Melbourne.

The PPP will build and fit-out the nine-kilometre Metro Tunnel and the five new underground stations at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.

New details about the construction of the tunnels has also been revealed, with up to six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) set to be used during construction, each up to 100 metres long and weighing more than 1,000 tonnes.

In preparation for this significant work, three giant shafts will be excavated in the CBD – at Franklin Street and A’Beckett Street near Melbourne Central station, and at City Square near Flinders Street Station.

The shafts will be up to 11 storeys deep and will enable the roadheaders to be lowered into the ground to begin excavating around two million cubic metres of soil and rock – enough to fill 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Shortlisted bidders for the PPP will be asked to submit a formal proposal by early next year, with a contract expected to be awarded by the end of 2017.

Work on the Tunnel and Stations PPP will begin in 2018. For more information about this city-shaping project, visit metrotunnel.vic.gov.au