Passenger Rail

First retired tram to become coffee shop

W-Class Tram. Photo: Yarra Trams

The first of Victoria’s latest batch of retired trams will be awarded to a joint bud of the Diamond Creek Rotary Club, Country Fire Authority and Men’s Shed.

The tram is the first awarded under the Andrew’s Government’s program to release 134 retired trams – mostly W-Class – to worthy organisations or groups, so they can be repurposed.

It will be restored by volunteers from the local Men’s Shed and converted into a coffee shop, located near the Diamond Creek community centre and local sports grounds.

It will be made available to local community groups to run on weekends to help raise funds for their organisations.

Victorian transport minister Jacinta Allan said the expressions of interest process, run by VicTrack, had attracted more than 1,500 applications.

Trams are being handed out, with a fee, to parties who can refurbish them, and make them accessible to the public or use them to promote the state.

“I would like to congratulate the Diamond Creek Rotary, CFA and Men’s Shed on their successful application and it is exciting to see one of the state’s retired trams go to such a deserving home,” Allan said.

“Over the coming weeks we will see many more of our retired trams go to their new homes, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the trams will continue their journey.”

This batch of trams has been slowly removed from service over the past three decades.

Local member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said the Rotary/CFA/Men’s Shed tram would help the Diamond Creek community for years to come, and become a focal point for the local area.

“I am delighted to see one of Victoria’s iconic trams come to Diamond Creek and thank the Men’s Shed, the CFA and Rotary for all their hard work in putting together such a quality application,” Green said.