Guest Speaker: Tara from Downer Group
 
At Tuesday’s meeting we had an interesting insight presented to us by Tara, Downer’s Group Project Public Relations Manager about the new railway yards and works depot being built at Pakenham East. Tara explained how the new facilities are to service the new high capacity trains currently being built at Newport workshops by the Downer Group. Currently Metro Trains is progressively increasing the capacity of existing trains from 798 to 900 passengers, by ripping out seats near the doors to increase standing room. The new high capacity trains being built will carry 20% more passengers (I make that 1080).  The new railway depot at Pakenham East will be used to maintain and service, these new high capacity trains. The project will create 300 jobs in the construction phase and then 100 ongoing. 
We were also informed that local roads will be upgraded in the vicinity to caterer for the increase of heavy vehicles needing access to the site. Tara concluded her presentation with an artist impression of how the depot will look when they finish, assuring us that the site will be landscaped to blend in with its surroundings.
I think we should go back to Steam!!!!!!