The Victorian Government will build a new tram maintenance and stabling facility in Melbourne’s west to house 100 new Next Generation Trams, delivering hundreds of jobs in construction and boosting the local economy.
The facility will be built on a vacant site in Maidstone near Highpoint Shopping Centre, creating around 280 jobs in construction, ongoing maintenance, and the supply chain. The project will also see a more reliable, accessible and modern tram fleet servicing communities in this part of Melbourne – reducing the need for new tracks and other infrastructure.
The Labor Government is continuing to expand its Melbourne tram fleet, with the $1.85 billion project in Maidstone set to become the home of the new trams as existing depots reach capacity.
The project team will engage with the local community and businesses before detailed planning begins, and will consider how the development can best celebrate the history of the local area.
The new Next Generation Trams will set the standard for modern public transport and deliver a more comfortable, accessible, and energy-efficient journey for passengers. The project also includes a minimum local contract quota of 65 per cent, supporting skilled manufacturing jobs.
The contract to design, build and maintain the trams will be awarded in early 2022 following a tender evaluation process.
This investment is another way the Labor Government is supporting rolling stock and infrastructure in Victoria, following a record $7.5 billion investment since 2015.
Alongside the Government’s orders of 50 E-Class trams since 2015, the Next Generation Trams will gradually replace Melbourne’s longest serving high-floor trams, making the public transport network more accessible for all Victorians.
Public Transport minister Ben Carroll said the state was leading the nation in tram and train manufacturing, and this project would support hundreds of skilled jobs.
“This new facility will play a critical role as we transform Melbourne’s iconic tram network and deliver better and more accessible services for passengers,” he said.