MONDAY 1 DECEMBER 2025
BHP unveils Australia’s first battery-electric locomotives
Mining giant BHP has introduced Australia’s first purpose-built battery-electric locomotives (BELs) at its Pilbara iron ore operations, marking a major step towards decarbonising heavy rail freight. The locomotives, developed in partnership with Wabtec, are designed to reduce diesel use and emissions across BHP’s 1,000 km rail network.
The company estimates the BELs could cut fuel consumption by up to 30% per trip, with full deployment expected to support broader sustainability goals across the mining and transport sectors.
Canberra’s $64 m MyWay+ transport ticketing system delayed
The ACT Government is withholding payment and seeking legal advice after tech contractor NEC missed a major November 1 milestone in the rollout of the new MyWay+ public transport ticketing system. Nearly a year since launch, the $64 million MyWay+ system – intended to enable cashless payments and real-time info – remains plagued by glitches (broken card readers, blank displays). An ACT Assembly inquiry has censured the Transport Minister over the project’s failures, and officials are reviewing contract compliance as four buses still lack MyWay+ hardware. NEC Australia says it’s working closely with the government to resolve the outstanding issues.
Giant caverns finished for Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel TBMs
Crews have dug out two massive underground caverns (28 m high) at Birchgrove, which will serve as launch chambers for the twin 15.7 m diameter tunnel-boring machines (the largest ever used in Australia) that will excavate Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel.
Once assembled in these caverns, the TBMs will bore a 1.5 km under-harbour section of the new road tunnel, connecting Rozelle to North Sydney. This milestone brings Sydney one step closer to its first new road harbour crossing in 30 years – the 6.5 km Western Harbour Tunnel, designed to ease traffic on the Harbour Bridge, is on track to open in 2028.
Contract signed for $650 million Melton Line Upgrade in VIC
Federal and state governments have awarded a $650 million contract to a consortium (John Holland, KBR, Metro Trains and V/Line) to upgrade Melbourne’s Melton rail line in the western suburbs. The project will extend station platforms at Cobblebank, Rockbank, Caroline Springs and Deer Park to accommodate nine-car VLocity trains, increasing passenger capacity by 50% on peak services from 2027.
It also includes building a new train stabling yard at Cobblebank (future-proofed for electrification) and removing four level crossings as well as constructing a new Melton Station. The upgrade – jointly funded by federal and state $325 m contributions – aims to cater to booming population growth in Melbourne’s outer west.