Melbourne operator Yarra Trams has officially opened its redeveloped tram depot on St Georges Road, which will house the 70 new E-Class trams which run on the city’s network.
Victorian transport minister Jacinta Allan said the new Preston Tram Depot was the product of a $190 million redevelopment project.
Allan said the new depot resulted from the largest redevelopment ever undertaken on a heritage site while it remained operational in Australia.
Yarra Trams kept using the depot as a heavy maintenance facility during redevelopment.
“New Preston Depot is one of the most modern tram depots in the world and it has set a new benchmark in our industry in terms of technology and automated services, which will create significant service delivery improvements for our network and the people of Melbourne,” Yarra Trams chief Nicolas Gindt said.
“Modernising the tram network is critical to ensure that we can continue to deliver safe and reliable services to Melbourne and the more than 192 million passenger trips each year.”
“This brand new home for our biggest trams will support services, skills and jobs, and ensure our tram network grows as Melbourne does,” Allan added.
“E-Class trams are built in Melbourne for Melbourne. They’re the biggest, safest and most accessible trams on the network and every single one of them has been ordered by a Labor Government.”
Allan said the depot redevelopment created around 250 on-site construction jobs and many more in the manufacturing supply chain.
As well as serving as a tram depot, the new facility is also home to Yarra Trams’ skills development program.
The training facility includes a full-sized tram cabin simulator that provides trainee drivers with driving experience before operating a tram.