Bombardier’s Dandenong workshops will build another six VLocity trains for Victoria’s regional railways under a new order placed this week.
Six new three-carriage trains will be built under the new order, which is part of a $340 million allocation made in the 2019/20 budget. The allocation allows for a total order of 18 new trains.
Victorian public transport minister Melissa Horne said the new trains would help meet growing demand for regional rail services, operated by V/Line.
“We said we’d deliver new VLocity trains for regional Victoria and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Horne said. “We’re improving services for passengers and supporting hundreds of Victorian jobs as we continue to build new trains and refurbish our existing fleet.”
The new trains contract is being run alongside a $50 million contract to refurbish V/Line’s 75 existing trains, with new seat coverings and padding, and other minor repairs also taking place at Dandenong.
The Andrews Labor Government says it has increased V/Line services by 40 per cent, with the operator now running more than 2,000 a week.
Member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams noted the contract also supported employment in the area.
“Bombardier are a world leader in manufacturing – this new order will support 100 direct jobs and hundreds more throughout the supply chain,” Williams said.