Melbourne’s public transport system is going through some big changes: the Metro Tunnel is approaching completion, Myki card readers are being upgraded to take different forms of payment, and soon, a whole new fleet of trams will be taking to the streets. The first of 100 brand-new, G Class trams has officially rolled into the freshly opened Maidstone Tram Depot, marking a major milestone in the city’s $1.85 billion tram transformation.
Unveiled by the Victorian Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, the new low-floor tram is now set to undergo a series of rigorous tests – assessing everything from braking and reliability to accessibility and comfort – before it begins network trials later this year. Once testing wraps up, the G Class fleet will take over Routes 57, 59 and 82, gradually replacing the city’s older high-floor trams.
Wondering what to expect? The new trams are almost double the size of the current models – they'll carry up to 150 passengers with a sleek low-floor design, more doors and handrails, modern heating and cooling, and real-time passenger info screens. They’re also built with accessibility front of mind, thanks to input from community and accessibility groups, tram drivers and passengers themselves.
Big enough to house around 40 trams, the Maidstone Tram Depot has been purpose-built to clean and maintain the G Class fleet – sustainably designed with solar panels, rainwater reuse systems and recycled materials.
According to the Victorian Government, 280 Victorians were employed for the construction, and with the trams being built in Dandenong using 65 per cent local content, the initiative is set to support almost 2,000 Victorian jobs in total – part of the Labor Government’s wider $9 billion investment in new public transport infrastructure across the state.
“This is the single biggest investment in tram rolling stock and infrastructure in Melbourne’s north-west in 50 years,” said Member for Essendon Danny Pearson.
The first G Class trams are expected to start rolling out for passengers next year – with commuters in Melbourne’s west in line for quieter rides, cooler carriages and more room to move. You can learn more over here.
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