AUSTRALIA: Victoria’s Minister for Public & Active Transport Gabrielle Williams has officially opened the Maidstone depot in Melbourne where Alstom will maintain 100 G Class trams which it is supplying for the world’s largest tram network.
The first of the trams has now arrived at the site for testing of the braking systems, accessibility features and overall reliability, ahead of trials on the network later this year.
The low-floor trams are to be rolled out on routes 57, 59 and 82 from 2026, enabling the withdrawal of high-floor vehcicles to provide passengers with more space and better accessibility. Planning for wider operation of the vehicles on more routes is underway in co-ordination with other initiatives to enhance the tram network.
Alstom will maintain the fleet for 15 years at the depot, which features rainwater collection and reuse, solar panels and recycled materials.
‘Today is about more than opening a facility - it’s about supporting the future of Melbourne’s tram network’, Alstom Australia & New Zealand Managing Director Pascal Dupond said when the depot was opened on October 16. ‘Maidstone is a state‑of‑the‑art depot that will keep the G Class fleet running safely and reliably for the next 15 years. Built in Dandenong by our skilled local team, these trams combine Alstom’s global technology with Victorian know‑how to deliver accessible, energy‑efficient journeys for passengers.’
Next Generation Trams Project
In 2022 Victoria’s Department of Transport awarded Alstom a €700m framework contract to supply and maintain 100 trams a part of the A$1·85bn Next Generation Trams Project, which includes the construction of the depot.
Production is being undertaken at the former Bombardier Transportation Dandenong plant with a 65% local content requirement.
The design of the customised Flexity 2 trams was developed in consultation with accessibility groups, passengers and tram drivers. They have a capacity of 150 people, dedicated spaces for people with wheelchairs and mobility aids, more doors and handrails, improved passenger information, quieter and more energy-efficient motors and modern heating and cooling systems.
They are Melbourne’s seventh generation of trams, and have been assigned the letter class G as the seventh letter of the alphabet.
Ben Carroll, member of the Victorian parliament for Niddrie, said ‘our next-generation G Class trams will deliver more comfortable, accessible and energy-efficient journeys. They’ve been developed with, built by and made for Victorians.’
