WORLD’S LARGEST TRAM REFURBISHMENT HITS 300 MARK
17 Oct 2022
WORLD’S LARGEST TRAM REFURBISHMENT HITS 300 MARK
Victoria’s 300th tram has been freshly refurbished in the largest project of its kind, supporting more than 150 jobs.
The $230 million Rolling Stock Additional Works (RSAW) project sees up to 14 trams at a time undergo complex life extensions, refurbishment, deep cleans, overhauls, and system upgrades at the East Preston Depot tram workshop.
The project started in 2018 and is expected to have refurbished nearly 450 trams, or 85 per cent of the fleet, in 2024.
The project’s workforce and management team have been drawn from rail, automotive, and defence backgrounds, and nearly a dozen staff re-trained after retrenchment from the car manufacturing sector. There are also half a dozen apprentices learning their trade as part of this project.
The project incorporates major overhauls of the high-floor tram fleet including modernisation or replacement of critical subsystems such as engine equipment, ventilation, doors, fleet visual refreshment works. The program also includes the development and integration of modern safety and comfort amenities.
All refurbished trams are decked out with newly upholstered seats, cleaner and easier to maintain floors, and of course, a new coat of paint.
The 300th tram completed was A1-class tram built in Melbourne in November 1984 and has since travelled more than 1.7 million kilometres around Melbourne – the equivalent of more than 42 trips around the Earth’s equator.
Keolis Downer has been the proud operator of Melbourne’s tram network, Yarra Trams, since taking over in November 2009. Keolis Downer’s guiding principle is to ‘think like a passenger’ and is focused on delivering safe, reliable, clean, and easy-to-use services, while increasing the environmental, social, and economic contribution that Melbourne’s tram network makes to the city.
Melbourne has the largest tram network in the world, with more than 2,700 employees and more than 500 trams serving 24 routes spanning 250 km of double track.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll:
“This program has improved hundreds of trams on our network, refreshing interiors and refurbishing equipment while supporting more than 150 jobs.”
“It’s great to see the work to transform and upgrade our trams for a better passenger experience and I thank the team for completing their 300th tram, which will now go back into service.”
Quotes attributable to Yarra Trams’ Chief Executive Julien Dehornoy:
“This important project transforms our trams to feel as fresh as the day they were built and make them more comfortable and more reliable for our passengers.”
“As we look forward to the new G-class trams rolling off the production line from 2025, these refurbished trams will continue faithfully serving this wonderful city for the rest of their service life.”
Quotes attributable to Downer’s Chief Executive Officer, Grant Fenn:
“It is a testament to our skilled team at East Preston that we are able to refurbish and extend the life of the different types of trams across the fleet.”
“Downer is proud to undertake the world’s largest tram refurbishment project to help support the millions of passengers per year that travel on Melbourne’s iconic trams.”
