Alstom delivers Australia’s first brownfield CBTC installation for Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project
Alstom delivers Australia’s first brownfield CBTC installation for Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project
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Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel has entered passenger service featuring Alstom’s Urbalis Flo Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system, enabling a high frequency train service.
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Installing a high-capacity CBTC system on an existing network was a first in Australia.
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Alstom also delivered custom station Platform Screen Doors enabling precision platform stopping as well as core component technologies for the Sunshine Signal Control Centre.
1 December 2025 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has designed and delivered Australia’s first CBTC system on an existing network as Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project officially opens for service. Alstom’s Urbalis Flo CBTC will enable thousands more weekly passenger trips and reduced headway between trains, allowing the network to run more trains more often.
Featuring Alstom’s CTBC technology and conventional signalling working in sync and five new stations opening on the network, the project represents the biggest transformation of Melbourne’s railway since the City Loop opened more than 40 years ago. The project more than doubles the size of the city’s underground rail network.
“If ever an Australian signalling project stood for the coming together of global expertise with local network knowledge, the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project is it. We are proud of the role that we have played on a truly city shaping project.
“The system that we have installed is bespoke for Melbourne’s rail network operating in a brownfield environment which is an Australian first. If ever an Australian signalling project stood for the coming together of global expertise with local network knowledge, the Metro Tunnel Project is it. We are proud of the role that we have played on a truly city shaping project,” said Pascal Dupond, Managing Director of Alstom Australia and New Zealand.
The only rail technology provider to have delivered urban CBTC technology in Australia
Driver onboard Automatic Train Operation is a key project feature enabling autonomous train operation as well as custom-built Platform Screen Doors. Alstom, as part of the Rail Network Alliance, has carried out more than 4,000 hours and 70,000 kilometres of dynamic testing on the network prior to opening. Benefits delivered include reduced headway between trains, increased precision of train speed profile, increased station stopping accuracy and reduced turn back times.
The project featured collaboration of Alstom teams from Australia, Thailand, USA, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, UK, India, Canada and Spain since contract signing in 2017.
This milestone represents the culmination of several years of effort and has been delivered in line and to program of the project commitments made to the State of Victoria. Melbourne now joins Sydney in having CBTC technology on its rail network, with Alstom also delivering high capacity signalling for Perth. Alstom is the only rail technology provider to have delivered urban CBTC technology in Australia.
Alstom is a strong leader in the mass transit market with over 30 years’ expertise in communications-based train control (CBTC). Our state-of-the-art Urbalis signalling system is used on over 190 metro lines in 32 countries with, including 74 that operate in a complete automatic, driverless basis.
Alstom™ and Urbalis Flo™ are trademarks of Alstom.
