Australia’s Victorian Government has unveiled plans to invest A$2bn ($1.5bn) for 83 new trams and trains across the state’s metro, regional trains and tram network.
The ten-year rolling stock strategy will include 100 new metropolitan trains, 100 new trams and expansion of the state’s regional train fleet.
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As part of the investment, A$1.3bn will be spent to buy 37 new high-capacity metro trains, A$274m for 20 E-Class Trams, A$257m for 21 VLocity Carriages and A$90m for five new X’Trapolis Trains.
Of the total funding, A$75m will be used for maintenance and refurbishment to extend the life of the current Comeng train fleet, as well as A$21m to extend the life of the B-Class tram fleet.
The plan will offer greater certainty to rolling stock manufacturers and suppliers, which employ around 10,000 people in Victoria.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said: "This A$2bn investment in new trams, trains and jobs is part of our plan to transform Victoria’s public transport system and create local jobs and we’re getting on with it."
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By GlobalData"Victoria is the only state that makes trams and trains. We want to see these industries grow and employ more people, which is why we’re investing strongly."
The plan will allow companies to invest in facilities, in new technology and in workers, sustaining high-skill manufacturing in the state.
The government will work with the TAFE sector to develop programmes for apprentices in the rolling stock industry, training the next-generation of engineers.
