The first of 100 newly manufactured G class trams have officially entered service on Melbourne's light rail network, focusing on routes serving the city's northwest. According to Railway Gazette, this rollout represents the commencement of a substantial fleet renewal program commissioned by the Victoria state government under an A$700m contract initially awarded in 2022.
Built at Alstom’s Dandenong facility, the new vehicles incorporate more than 65% local content. The G class trams are three-section, 100% low-floor units measuring 25 m in length. Each vehicle is designed to carry up to 150 passengers, including 48 seated. Technically, they utilize a development of the Bombardier Flexity 2 platform, featuring pivoting outer bogies for improved navigation. Propulsion is provided by four 105 kW Škoda FCX traction motors, enabling a top speed of 80 km/h, with integrated regenerative braking systems.
Technical Specifications and Operational Data
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Model | G Class |
| Total Units Ordered | 100 |
| Contract Value | A$700m |
| Length | 25 m |
| Passenger Capacity | 150 (48 seated) |
| Traction Motors | 4 x 105 kW Škoda FCX |
| Max Speed | 80 km/h |
| Local Content | >65% |
These vehicles are replacing legacy high-floor Z and A class trams, which have been in operation since the 1980s. The deployment strategy involves an initial rollout on routes 57, 59, and 82, managed from the Essendon depot. Half of the 100-tram fleet is designated for these lines, with the remaining 50 units slated for routes 12, 48, and 58. Support infrastructure is anchored by a new depot at Maidstone, completed in mid-2025 by a John Holland–led alliance, which will facilitate 15 years of maintenance under the contract. Alstom reports that the program has fostered over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and involved over A$40m in capital expenditure at the Dandenong site.
Why It Matters
The introduction of the G class marks a critical shift toward standardized, accessible public transport in Australia’s urban centers. By retiring 1980s-era assets, Melbourne is addressing long-standing accessibility gaps and maintenance inefficiencies. The high degree of local content (65%) serves as a model for regional industrial policy, demonstrating how government transit procurement can sustain domestic manufacturing ecosystems. As urban populations densify, the focus on capacity-efficient, low-floor vehicles indicates a broader industry movement toward optimizing existing rail corridors rather than relying solely on large-scale, cost-heavy greenfield transit extensions.
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