Coburg & Moreland Station

Skyrail Moreland-Coburg: Innovative Access Solutions for Major Melbourne Rail Infrastructure

SIS partnered with John Holland to deliver scaffolding and access solutions for the landmark $600 million Skyrail project—a 2 km elevated rail development designed to remove level crossings between Moreland and Coburg stations. Initially programmed as a 90-day occupation (the largest in the Southern Hemisphere), this complex infrastructure project was successfully completed 30 days ahead of schedule through innovative approaches and exceptional teamwork.

The high-density suburban environment presented substantial challenges, requiring meticulous planning to minimise community disruption while meeting the demanding 24/7 project schedule. Our team conducted comprehensive pre-planning to understand the intricacies of the two new station builds and surrounding infrastructure, identifying areas where precise scaffold designs would be required in severely constrained spaces.

Drawing on our extensive engineering capabilities, we developed custom access solutions that enabled safe, efficient work while accommodating the integration of the two new stations with the elevated rail infrastructure. Our scaffold systems were strategically designed to provide maximum workspace within minimal footprints, allowing multiple trades to operate simultaneously within the constrained corridor.

A standout innovation from our team was the development of a specialised retractable stretcher access system that enabled the high roller to position railway tracks into the U-troughs of the Skyrail. This bespoke solution—which we designed, built, installed and managed—proved so successful that John Holland has requested its implementation on future projects.

To ensure operational reliability and maintain momentum, our team established complete self-sufficiency on-site, supplying all plant equipment and transport needs with rail-compliant materials and vehicles. This strategic approach eliminated dependencies on external services, creating significant time efficiencies that contributed to the accelerated project timeline. Our agile, responsive approach extended beyond the on-site team to our entire operation—including design and engineering, administration, warehouse and dispatch, and transport and logistics—all working cohesively to maintain the extraordinary pace required throughout the project duration.