Manufacturing of Melbourne’s new trains at a Newport manufacturing facility has begun as part of a Victorian train upgrade.
Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, has marked the start of manufacturing of the High Capacity Metro Train fleet – the first new train design in more than 10 years for Victoria.
“By the middle of next year we will see bigger and better trains on our busiest lines, carrying more passengers and delivering a more comfortable ride,” Ms Allan said.
The bigger trains are being manufactured and assembled by 175 local workers in Newport. Built with 60 per cent local content, the trains are made with more local content than any other project of this kind in Australia – with bogie frames being built in Bendigo, traction and electrical systems made in Morwell, and key electrical components and pantographs from Hallam.
The new next-generation trains are a result of a year-long train design engagement process, where hundreds of Victorians had their say to make the trains more accessible and comfortable than ever before.
The first High Capacity Metro Train will be ready for testing by the end of 2018.
