Place Alliance will negotiate to build Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill stations for the Suburban Rail Loop.
Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop Harriet Shing revealed today that Place Alliance, a consortium of John Holland, Kellogg Brown and Root, and Arup Australia, has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Stations Alliance North Contract. The consortium brings serious credentials to the table, having worked on the Metro Tunnel, Sydney Metro, WestConnex and Inland Rail.
Detailed negotiations with Place Alliance will kick off now, with the contract expected to be locked in next year. Meanwhile, the two other shortlisted bidders, Connexus and ESPA, will compete for the second stations contract to build stops at Cheltenham, Clayton and Monash.
Suburban Rail Loop
- What: Three underground stations at Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill
- When: Contract expected to be awarded in 2026
- Who: Place Alliance (John Holland, Kellogg Brown and Root, Arup Australia)
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Each station of the Suburban Rail Loop will be fully accessible and light-filled, featuring retail and dining options alongside design elements inspired by local history and First Nations peoples. All three will achieve at least a 5-star Green Star rating.
Connections to existing Metro stations will be safe and accessible, with new and upgraded bus and tram interchanges, plus improved walking and cycling paths with bike parking. These stations are designed to support more housing within walking distance of jobs, health services, universities and quality open space.
Travel times across Melbourne will change dramatically. A nurse from Carrum heading to Box Hill Hospital will save 17 minutes on public transport, while a student in Caulfield visiting friends in Glen Waverley will cut their journey to just 22 minutes – 17 minutes faster than current public transport options. Students living in Laverton will reach Deakin University in 60 minutes via the Suburban Rail Loop, compared to up to 79 minutes by car.
Suburban Rail Loop construction is creating up to 8,000 direct local jobs, with more than 3,000 people already working on the project. Crews are working around the clock preparing for tunnel boring machines to arrive later this year, with launches scheduled for 2026. The project remains on time and on budget according to state government.
For more information, head here.
