AECOM, John Holland, CPB Contractors, and Metro Trains Melbourne have been awarded the contract for the first package of works on the $2.1 billion Sunbury Line Upgrade project.

The $215 million package will extend platforms, boost accessibility and build new stabling at stations along the Sunbury line. Site investigations for the platform extensions and stabling upgrades will be undertaken, with major works on the platform extensions and stabling to begin by the end of the year.

The Sunbury Line Upgrade will deliver platform extensions at every station between Sunbury and Footscray, wheelchair boarding platforms at eight stations, traction power upgrades and improvements to train stabling at Sunbury, Calder Park and Watergardens.

The project will pave the way for the Labor Governments fleet of 65 new high-capacity metro trains (HCMTs) to run all the way to Sunbury when the Metro Tunnel is finished in 2025. The HCMTs will be 20 per cent bigger than current trains on the metropolitan network, reducing congestion and carrying more passengers with every trip.

The bigger trains, coupled with the Metro Tunnel, will enable an extra 113,000 peak hour passengers on the Sunbury line each week and slash their journey times by up to 40 minutes a day.