Melbourne’s locally-made Next-Gen trams are one step closer after a life-sized model of a G-class tram was unveiled for testing and evaluation for the first time ahead of production ramping up.
Public and active transport minister Gabrielle Williams visited Tullamarine today to unveil the mock-up of the tram, set to hit the network by 2025.
The Government is investing $1.85 billion in 100 new G-class trams alongside a new tram maintenance and stabling facility when the fleet is ready.
The more accessible trams will be built by Alstom in Dandenong, using at least 65 per cent local content and supporting up to 1900 local jobs through manufacturing, the supply chain and construction.
They will replace some of Melbourne’s longest-serving A and Z class high-floor trams, making the public transport network more accessible for all Victorians.
With greater capacity than the high floor trams, they will have space for up to 150 passengers and feature a low floor design to improve accessibility. The trams also feature on-board energy storage to reduce power use and network costs.
The first G Class trams are scheduled to begin testing on the network from 2025, before taking passengers on Routes 57, 59 and 82 in Melbourne’s west.
The life-sized Next-Gen model allows passengers, tram drivers, technical and accessibility groups to walk through the interior layout including the drivers cab to provide feedback on the design.
The Government has invested more than $9 billion in new and upgraded rolling stock and supporting infrastructure since 2015 to get people where they need to go safer and sooner.
“We’re getting on with delivering modern and more accessible trams to Melbourne’s west, replacing our longest-serving high-floor trams while supporting hundreds of skilled jobs,” Williams said.
“This is the biggest investment in locally made trams in Australia’s history and today is an important step towards finalising the design before production gets underway in Dandenong.”
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