The first of more than 100 new trains ordered by the Victorian Government are now in service.
The State Government ordered 48 new V/Line carriages and 84 new metropolitan trains, and set out a 10 year order-book for hundreds more through Victoria’s first ever rolling stock strategy Trains, Trams, Jobs.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said, “We’ve ordered more than 100 new trains in less than two years and they’re already starting to hit the network.
“The new trains will be vital as patronage grows and we deliver our pipeline of major transport projects including the Metro Tunnel, 50 level crossing removals, and line upgrades and extensions across Victoria.”
The first new X’Trapolis metropolitan train ordered by the State Government is now also on the tracks, with 18 more to roll off the production line in Ballarat and into service in the next three years.
The X’Trapolis and VLocity trains will relieve pressure on the network ahead of 65 new high-capacity metro trains that will begin arriving in late 2018 – the largest single order of new trains in Victoria’s history.
The investment is supporting thousands of local jobs in the rolling stock industry, and providing opportunities for young workers and people re-skilling from the auto-industry and other sectors.
Victorian Minister for Employment, Wade Noonan, said, “Our unprecedented investment in new trains is supporting thousands of jobs in our rolling stock industry, which employs up to 10,000 Victorians.
“We’re building new trains for Victoria, in Victoria – to support jobs and skills, and get people home safer and sooner.”
The three-carriage VLocity set will enter service on 7 November 2016.
The X’Trapolis train will run on the Alamein, Belgrave, Glen Waverley, Lilydale, South Morang and Hurstbridge lines.
