The rollout of Bombardier’s Flexity Swift trams to the Melbourne network has continued, with the first ‘E-Class’ trams now running between West Preston and Docklands.
Built at Bombardier’s facility in Dandenong, the latest trams added to the Melbourne network are the first E-Class trams to run outside Route 96.
State transport minister Jacinta Allan said the move was “great news” for passengers on Route 11, one of Melbourne’s busiest.
“E-Class trams are made in Melbourne, for Melbourne, and it’s great to see them spreading out across our wonderful city,” Allan said. “They are the biggest, safest and most accessible trams on our network, and more and more people will get to enjoy them over the coming years as they come off the production line in Dandenong and into service.”
Bombardier was initially tasked with building 50 trams for the E-Class order, but this order has increased to 70 since the Andrews Government added 20 more at this year’s state Budget.
There are currently roughly 24 E-Class trams on the Melbourne network.
At 33 metres long, E-Class trams are Melbourne’s biggest, with capacity to carry more than 200 people. They feature a low-floor design, wider doorways and dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, scooters and prams also make them Melbourne’s most accessible, Allan said.
Allan said the government plans to continue to spread the new generation of trams across the whole network, as they are produced. Tram stops along Collins Street are being upgraded in effort to accommodate the new trams, and make them safer and more accessible.
Allan also announced a new automated travel information system on 130 B-Class trams.
The automated system will provide real-time travel updates to passengers, on screens in the tram and through announcements over the speakers, about where they are on the network and the stop they are approaching.
“The new passenger information improvements will help passengers use our tram network, and get where they need to go,” Allan said.
The technology is part of an $8.4 million program to improve information for passengers and help them find their way on Melbourne’s tram network, the minister explained. Other initiatives include the installation of 50 ‘tramTRACKER’ mini screens and 40 remote public address units across the tram network.
The new automated passenger information displays will be introduced from later this month.
“The Andrews Labor Government is investing in new trams and better technology to support Victorian jobs and make our iconic tram network better for the 600,000 passengers who use it each weekday,” Allan concluded.