They don't call Melbourne the sporting capital of Australia for no reason; after all, we're home to the Aussie Open, the AFL Grand Final, the F1 Grand Prix and the Boxing Day Test, just to name a few. Well, it's time to pencil in a new mega moment in your 2027 sports calendar, and it's one that feels quintessentially Melbourne: the World Tram Driver Championship.
The World Tram Driver Championship had humble beginnings in 2012 as a Europe-only contest, but in 2022, Melbourne was the first international team to be invited to participate. No surprises there – Melbourne's tram network is the largest in the world, boasting more than 250 kilometres of double track and over 5,000 daily services that transport almost 200 million passengers every year. We've even got our very own tram café!
In 2024, teams from Africa, South America and Southeast Asia also joined in the championship – and so, the ultimate skills test for tram drivers cemented its global status.
The annual event was held in Vienna this year, where tram drivers Craig Maher and Sally Burgess repped Melbourne to compete against 25 other countries in the hopes of taking out the gold medal. While they finished in 23rd (the Austrian team comprising drivers Elisabeth Urbanitsch and Florijan Isaku were crowned the winners – hometown advantage, anyone?), we're confident that hosting the championship in 2027 will give our Tramaroos all the moral support they need to 'ding' their way to the top.
Disciplines tested in the competition range from precision stopping and speed control to tram bowling and curling.
“This event is more than a competition – it’s a celebration of the people, culture and innovation that make trams such an important part of our city,” said Yarra Trams CEO, Vincent Destot.
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