The first of Melbourne’s new fleet of X’Trapolis 2.0 trains entered service yesterday morning, with 1000 excited passengers on board for the debut journey.
The new trains, which will run on the Upfield, Craigieburn and Frankston lines, will enable the gradual retirement of some of the lines’ longest-serving Comeng trains, which have been in service since the 1980s.
The electric six-car X’Trapolis 2.0 trains can carry up to 1225 passengers, with 20 dedicated wheelchair spaces, pram, bike and mixed-use areas.
They are fitted with many new and improved features, including wider doors for faster boarding, a continuous walkthrough design, and accessibility improvements including semi-automated ramps, tactile signage, assistive hearing technologies, and an improved passenger-driver interface.
In total, 58 design refinements were made during initial design development in response to engagement with stakeholders.
The X’Trapolis 2.0 fleet has been built by train manufacturer Alstom at its Dandenong and Ballarat sites in Victoria, with a 60 per cent local content requirement.
Up to 750 jobs have been created by the project within the local rail supply chain.
Guillaume Tritter, Managing Director for Alstom Australia and New Zealand, said the arrival of X’Trapolis 2.0 trains into Melbourne’s fleet rotation is a “proud moment for all involved”.
He continued: “I would like to sincerely thank the Alstom team, together with our partners at the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning and Metro Trains Melbourne, for the outstanding collaboration that made this achievement possible.
“The strength of these relationships has delivered something truly significant – a train built in Victoria, for the people of Melbourne.”
The new train that entered service yesterday is the first of 25 commissioned by the Victorian Government, which will progressively enter service at a rate of approximately one a month.
The Victorian Government also recently announced that the Victorian Budget 2026/2027 will invest $637.6 million to deliver 25 more X’Trapolis 2.0 trains.
