AUSTRALIA: Melbourne has been selected to host the 2027 World Tram Driver Championship, which the Victoria state government said builds on its reputation as a leading destination for international sporting events including the Australian Open, Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup.
The Championship sees tram drivers compete in challenges including precision stopping, smooth starting and braking and tram bowling. It was launched as the European Tram Driver Championship in Dresden in 2012, and in 2022 Australia was the first non-European country to compete.
The September 2025 event in Austria was the first to be designated the World Tram Driver Championship, with 25 teams from 25 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and North and South America. The winner was host city Wien, ahead of Poznań and Oslo.
‘Melbourne is home to the world’s biggest tram network and hosting the World Tram Driver Championship will showcase the important role trams play in our city’, said Victoria’s Minister for Public & Active Transport Gabrielle Williams on September 14. ‘We’re excited to welcome the world’s best tram drivers to our iconic network, and cheer on our Tramaroos in 2027.’
