A new initiative putting mental health and social support practitioners in the heart of Frankston’s city centre has launched, making community wellbeing and safety a priority for 2025. Frankston City Council, Metro Trains and South East Community Links (SECL) have partnered on a new outreach initiative, called Community Connectors. The need for support services at Frankston Station and Young Street Precinct was identified in Council’s Young Street Action Plan. Metro CEO Raymond O’Flaherty says the program follows a successful pilot at Dandenong Station and is aimed at assisting community members and passengers who frequent the station precinct and face complex challenges. “Our experience with the Community Connectors Program in Dandenong showed that it works and expanding the trial out to Frankston will mean this service can benefit more Melburnians along with our staff who work at the station,” he said. SECL CEO Peter McNamara said that in addition to providing support to those in need, the program will help passengers feel safer at Frankston railway station.

Metro Trains is using award-winning laser technology at Richmond and Parliament Stations to manage crowd safety during major Melbourne events.  The People Movement Analytics initiative uses Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology sensors at stations to capture passenger density on platforms and monitors crowd sizes to provide real time feedback to station staff. It cannot be used to identify individuals.  Staff can access the data through a tablet, and the information helps with platform crowd management and alerts staff of any trespassers jumping into the station pit and onto the tracks.  General Manager Performance Planning and Reporting Michael Jewell says an extensive trial period convinced his team of the LiDAR technology’s benefits.   “We know it has already helped Stations and Authorised Officer teams during busy special events when the platforms become very crowded,” Michael says.    “We have worked so hard over the past two years on this initiative, and it is fantastic to see it in use at two of our busiest stations.” 

Metro Trains Melbourne, a joint venture between MTR Corporation, John Holland and UGL, is proudly marking 15 years as the franchise operator of Melbourne’s metropolitan railway network. To celebrate, Metro Trains Melbourne has announced 15 scholarships, to help kick start a career in the rail industry. The scholarship covers the costs of completing Australasian Railway Association’s ‘Professional Certificate in Rail’ course – a 25-week online program (approx. 2-hours per week) which is industry-designed and recognised. The ARA Professional Certificate in Rail combines the ARA’s five industry-leading courses with a live webinar and an optional site-visit.

Metro Trains has made a $100,000 donation to Foodbank Victoria which will provide 200,000 meals to Melbournians who need assistance. Metro employees were asked to nominate a charity to receive the donation with Foodbank Victoria coming out as the top choice. The donation recognises the challenging conditions many Melburnians face each day with the rising cost of living. Metro Trains colleagues who nominated Foodbank Victoria had the opportunity to visit the facility and hear from the people who work every day to help people in Melbourne who need food assistance. Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty says, “This was a donation led by our people. Foodbank Victoria strongly aligns with our values to support Melburnians who are doing it tough right now due to the rising cost of living. “Metro is proud to support Foodbank Victoria to provide assistance to thousands of community members doing it tough.” Metro Trains Compliance Manager Michelle Jones nominated Foodbank Victoria to receive the donation. “I have been lucky enough to have volunteered at the Yarraville warehouse several times now with the local legends who keep those pallets stacked and the trucks loaded with basic necessities. “Foodbank does a phenomenal job feeding Victorians every day when so many can’t afford to feed themselves.  I have the utmost respect for Foodbank Victoria’s CEO Dave McNamara, the Foodbank staff and volunteers – a bunch of unsung heroes.”

With more women than ever joining the rail industry, Metro Trains Melbourne is investing $1 million to upgrade female facilities across the network.   CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said said the new facilities would help encourage more women to join the rail industry.   “This investment will have a further positive impact for our female employees. As one of the largest public transport operators in Australia, we are committed to achieving a 40% female workplace by 2027,” he said.    Metro’s investment will be used to ensure locations around the network provide adequate toilets, showers and change rooms to accommodate the growing female workforce.  Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said the new facilities would help encourage more women to join the rail industry.   “Metro’s investment demonstrates a commitment to recruiting more women into the railways, taking up fulfilling, flexible opportunities,” she said.

Congratulations are in order for the High Capacity Signalling Implementation Project Team who were awarded the highly regarded MTR Grand Award in Hong Kong on 1 November, 2024. Our team was recognised for being the first railway in Australia to safely retrofit High Capacity Signalling to an existing rail network and successfully operating mixed mode services. This marked an important step forward in commissioning the new technology that will operate through the new Metro Tunnel, bringing Day One another step closer.   It took an enormous One Team effort to commission the new High Capacity Signalling and operationalise Communication Based Train Control mixed-mode services on our network. This global recognition by MTR is a shared achievement across Metro.   Congratulations to all involved. 

Improved safety at Dandenong station and an increased sense of community wellbeing are key outcomes after the first year of Metro’s innovative community outreach initiative. As the first of its kind in Victoria, the Community Connectors pilot program has facilitated more than 3,300 engagements since it began in July 2023. Delivered in partnership with South East Community Links (SECL), the program employs two specialised outreach practitioners — Community Connectors — who provide assistance to people visiting the station and help them access services, such as housing support, alcohol/drug programs and mental health services. Community Connectors work closely with Metro staff, Protective Service Officers (PSOs) and Victoria Police to improve safety.

Metro Trains is proudly marking 15 years as the franchise operator of Melbourne’s metropolitan railway network. Starting in 2009, Metro Trains Melbourne is a joint venture between MTR Corporation, John Holland and UGL Rail, a Division of UGL Pty Ltd, celebrating 15 years of joint success. Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty says Metro has taken its place as a key part of Melbourne.

More train travellers are being hurt in accidents on platforms and on board, prompting a safety warning as many people take to public transport for major events across Melbourne this spring. An average of 80 passengers have been injured each month for the first half of this year – the result of a range of slips, trips and falls. Metro Trains is reminding passengers to be safe around railway stations and on-board busy trains, especially during Melbourne’s unpredictable weather this spring. Metro Trains chief executive Raymond O’Flaherty said that as the city’s events season ramps, it was timely to remind passengers to be careful. “Hold onto handrails, don’t run for a train and please use lifts if you need them,” he said. The number of injuries and incidents across the Metro network has risen again this year. Last year 831 incidents were reported, an increase from 655 in 2022.

Flinders Street Station celebrates a major year milestone on September 12 – Australia’s oldest rail station has kept Melbourne moving for 170 years. Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson was on the concourse to celebrate the occasion. “Everyone in Melbourne has a special memory of the station, be it meeting friends or family under the clocks or strolling through the station on the way to the footy at the ‘G’,” he said.Metro CEO Raymond O’Flaherty reflected on the huge achievement of keeping Melbourne moving via the network’s busiest station.

Metro Trains is offering a new SMS service to notify the public of upcoming works. The alerts offer a convenient, sustainable alternative to paper letters said Metro’s Executive Director Corporate Affairs, Clare Abbott. “Successful trials in December 2023 and March 2024 have demonstrated that this is the way that residents prefer to be notified,” she said. Public and Active Public Transport Gabrielle Williams said, “This new service will make sure people are notified as Metro gets on with critical works on our transport network.” Moving forward, every notice delivered to residents and traders will include information on how to sign up for SMS. To opt in and stay informed, subscribe to SMS updates by texting the name of your closest station to 0475 109 470. For example, if Sunshine Station is your closest station, simply text “Sunshine” to 0475 109 470 and you will be added to that list. Residents can sign up for multiple locations. More information can be found at http://metrotrains.com.au/sms-disruption-alerts

The winners of the 2024 Australasian Rail Industry (ARI) Awards were announced on Wednesday 7 August, and among them was Chief Engineer Phil Ellingworth, who was awarded the prestigious ARI Career Achievement Award.   The Career Achievement Award recognises the passion and commitment of individuals who have spent many years in rail, and have made a difference for a company or the industry.  Phil Ellingworth has devoted 42 years to a distinguished career in rail engineering, including 26 years in Australia, following a move from the United Kingdom in 1998.   Phil joined Metro in October 2015, stepping into the role he holds today.   Phil is responsible for ensuring the technology we rely on is effective and safe, and for authorising changes to the infrastructure and rolling stock on our network. His work ensures Metro satisfies its obligations under its rail accreditation and Rail Safety National Law.   Deputy Chief Engineer Anthony Hart speaks of Phil’s excellence.   “Phil sees the railway holistically – a set of integrated systems rather than isolated disciplines,” he says.

The Australasian Railway Association has recognised several high quality winners from Metro Trains Melbourne with a prestigious 2024 Australasian Rail Industry Award. This year, Metro’s award winners were: Customer Service Excellence Award for the 2024 Taylor Swift concert series. Taylor Swift played to 96,000 people each night at the MCG over three nights in February. Our commitment to excellence in customer service shone during these concerts, thanks to our meticulous planning, robust execution, and enthusiastic participation. The initiative not only navigated the logistical challenges of a large-scale event, but also elevated the overall customer experience, establishing a new benchmark for future events.  

Metro Trains Melbourne has a big year ahead, with CEO Raymond O’Flaherty launching the FY25 Business Plan. A major focus will be intensive preparations for the opening of the Metro Tunnel and raising the bar on the passenger experience we provide every day to Melbourne. The plan sets out Metro’s shared focus areas and priorities for the year ahead. It will help us stay focused on doing the right work at the right time, delivering value for money, and driving towards our purpose – We Move Melbourne.