The Victorian Government is building more modern V/Line VLocity trains, keeping passengers moving across the state and allowing more trains to run around regional Victoria, more often.
Premier Daniel Andrews and public transport minister Ben Carroll recently visited the Alstom factory in Dandenong South – where a further 23 VLocity trains will be built, supporting around 500 local jobs.
The extra trains form part of a $601 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 to improve capacity on Victoria’s busiest regional lines as regional Victoria grows, and to respond to demand for the Government’s fair regional fares initiative – capping V/Line services at the same price as a daily metropolitan fare.
The VLocity trains are being progressively rolled out onto the network to replace V/Line’s older classic fleet, providing passengers with a more modern, reliable and efficient journey.
Each unit has six accessible spaces per three-carriage set and includes comfortable seats for long-haul journeys, a dedicated storage area for bicycles and accessibility improvements.
In a boost for those heading west, these trains will increase capacity on the Melton line – allowing nine-car train sets to run to boost capacity on the line by 50 per cent – as well as ensuring locals on the Geelong and Bacchus Marsh lines travel in comfort.
There are already more than 100 VLocity trains in service – and works on this order will get underway at the factory next year, once the order of 12 VLocity trains from the Victorian Budget 22/23 is complete.
“We’re continuing to make critical public transport investments where they’re needed most – building these 23 new VLocity trains will not only keep Victorians moving, but also back local jobs,” Carroll said.