New train and tram orders
The Victorian Government has invested in more than 300 new Victorian-built trains and trams since 2015.
These trains and trams are being continuously delivered into service to boost our metropolitan and regional fleets and support local jobs.
Our new trains and trams are more comfortable and accessible and will help cater for Victoria’s growing population.
The Victorian Government’s policy of a minimum of 50 per cent local content in new rolling stock orders gives manufacturers a secure future with new trains and trams built in Victoria by Victorian workers and apprentices.
Also on this page:
- X'Trapolis 2.0
- Next Generation Trams
- Vlocity trains on the North East line
- E-Class trams
- High Capacity Metro Trains
- X'Trapolis metro trains
- Vlocity regional trains
25 X’Trapolis 2.0 trains
Manufacturer: Alstom
Made in: Ballarat, Victoria
The Victorian Government is investing $986 million in 25 new X’Trapolis 2.0 trains and supporting infrastructure to modernise the Victorian train fleet.
This will continue the gradual retirement of the Comeng fleet – the longest-running trains on the metropolitan network.
Key benefits
The new trains will provide more reliable journeys, be more energy efficient and improve accessibility for passengers.
The investment will also upgrade the Craigieburn Train Maintenance Facility, allowing the new trains to be more efficiently housed and maintained.
Project status
Detailed design work is currently underway, with the 25 X’Trapolis 2.0 trains to be built in Ballarat.
Train manufacturer Alstom has begun recruitment at their manufacturing facility in Ballarat, with up to 150 local jobs being supported in the area.
Local jobs
X’Trapolis 2.0 trains will be designed and manufactured predominantly in Victoria, supporting about 750 local manufacturing and supply chain jobs. Many of the jobs will be based at Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Ballarat.
For more details on job opportunities in Ballarat, visit the Alstom website.
100 Next Generation Trams
The Victorian Government is investing $1.85 billion in 100 Next Generation Trams and a proposed new tram maintenance and stabling facility.
The Next Generation Trams will enable the retirement of our longest serving high-floor trams, making our public transport network more accessible for all Victorians.
The Victorian Government has signed a contract with Bombardier Transportation Australia (recently acquired by Alstom) to design and build the new trams, and to maintain them for 15 years.
The Next Generation Trams, to be known as the ‘G Class’, will be built in Melbourne and are anticipated to start rolling out from 2025.
Key benefits
The Next Generation Trams will set the standard for modern public transport, delivering a more comfortable, accessible and energy-efficient journey for passengers.
The proposed design includes on-board energy storage and regenerative braking, new accessibility technologies, and the latest safety systems.
Project status
The contract to design, build and maintain the trams was signed in April 2022, following a competitive tender and evaluation process.
The proposed tram design will now be refined in consultation with key stakeholders, including representatives from accessibility groups, passengers, and tram drivers. This is expected to be finalised in 2023, with construction of the new trams expected to start shortly after.
Project planning and community engagement is underway on the new tram maintenance and stabling facility.
Local jobs
The Next Generation Trams project will support up to 1,900 local jobs, including in the wider economy.
New standard gauge VLocity trains for North East line
Manufacturer: Alstom
Made in: Dandenong, Melbourne
The Victorian Government is delivering six comfortable modern, long-haul VLocity trains for the first time on the North East line.
The updated model is the first VLocity train to run on standard gauge tracks on Victoria’s regional network.
These new trains are part of the Victorian Government’s 2019/20 budget investment to meet increased demand across the regional network.
Key benefits
VLocity trains can run at faster speeds (up to 130km/h) than classic fleet trains.
The long-haul design, which includes feedback from local passenger representatives, will provide a range of benefits.
Each three-car set will include:
- comfortable seats for the long-haul journeys
- built-in USB chargers and mobile boosting technology so people can stay connected
- six luggage racks and overhead luggage racks to support the needs of recreational travellers
- three bike racks capable of holding up to nine bikes to support cycle tourism
- four shared tables so groups of family or friends can dine and chat together
- accessibility improvements to make it easier for people of all abilities to travel
- six wheelchair spaces with companion seats close by
- fold-down tray tables with cup holders.
Modern catering facilities will be introduced to services in the coming months.
Three-carriage VLocity trains can run coupled together for a total of six carriages.
Virtual train tour
Take a virtual tour to learn more about the new VLocity design for the North East line.
Project status
The first six-car standard gauge VLocity train for the North East Line started taking passengers in December 2021.
This followed an extensive testing program to show the new design was safe and reliable.
The remaining trains will be subject to a reduced testing program.
All six VLocity trains will be delivered by mid-2022, providing passengers with a modern, comfortable journey between Melbourne and Albury.
Download
- Fact sheet: VLocity trains first service [PDF 660KB]
- Fact sheet: VLocity trains first service [Word 21KB]
50 E-Class trams
Manufacturer: Alstom
Made in: Dandenong, Melbourne
Key benefits
The E-Class trams are the largest, safest and most accessible trams on the network. Each tram can carry 210 passengers and includes audio and visual passenger information, air conditioning, improved safety features and dedicated spaces for passengers with mobility aids or prams.
Project status
The 50th tram from this order entered service in October 2021, bringing the total E-Class fleet to 100 trams.
Local jobs
All 100 E-Class trams were built in Dandenong, supporting more than 500 local jobs, including in the wider supply chain.
70 new High Capacity Metro Trains
Manufacturer: Evolution Rail (a consortium of Downer, CRRC and Plenary)
Made in: Newport, Melbourne
Key benefits
The Victorian Government is delivering an order of 70 new High Capacity Metro Trains, capable of carrying 20 per cent more passengers than any other train on the network. Melbourne’s bigger, better trains will initially run on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and eventually run through the Metro Tunnel to Sunbury.
An additional $123 million will deliver five new trains to service the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, bringing the total High Capacity Metro Trains fleet to 70.
The project has also delivered a new depot at Pakenham East, which includes maintenance facilities, train stabling space and a train simulator for driver training.
Project status
The first High Capacity Metro Train began operating on the Pakenham line in December 2020, providing passengers with a smoother, quieter and more comfortable journey. This followed a comprehensive testing process to ensure the trains are safe and reliable.
The new trains are gradually entering passenger service on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, and will eventually service the Sunbury Line and the Melbourne Airport Rail.
Every High Capacity Metro Train must travel thousands of kilometres and pass hundreds of tests to ensure it is safe and reliable for passengers.
This important testing program will continue until all 70 trains are delivered.
Local jobs
The High Capacity Metro Trains project is supporting about 1,100 local jobs, including the wider supply chain.
24 additional X’Trapolis metro trains
Manufacturer: Alstom
Made in: Ballarat, Victoria
Key benefits
These 24 new trains took the total X'Trapolis fleet to 106 trains, improving reliability and capacity on the metropolitan network.
Project status
All 24 X’Trapolis trains have been delivered and are taking passengers.
Local jobs
X’Trapolis trains were built in Ballarat, supporting hundreds of local jobs, including the wider supply chain.
59 additional VLocity regional trains
Manufacturer: Alstom
Made in: Dandenong, Melbourne
Key benefits
The new three-car VLocity trains will take the total fleet to 118 three-car trains, improving reliability and capacity on Victoria’s regional network.
Further broad-gauge VLocity trains are being added to the network, including 12 new trains that will allow increased services on the Shepparton corridor and enable the long serving locomotive-hauled Classic Fleet on the Warrnambool Line to be retired.
A new stabling facility in Bairnsdale will also enable more services to be run by modern and comfortable VLocity trains, and help with retirement of the Classic Fleet from the Gippsland Line.
The latest trains include accessibility improvements, an internal seating configuration designed for use across a range of V/Line services, and mobile signal boosters to improve mobile phone coverage for passengers.
Project status
The new standard gauge VLocity trains for the North East Line started taking passengers in late 2021, with all six trains now delivered and in service.
We welcomed the 100th VLocity train to Victoria’s regional network in August 2022, with more trains on the way, which are being progressively added to V/Line’s fleet as they are completed.
Local jobs
The VLocity train order is supporting more than 500 local jobs in Dandenong and throughout the supply chain.