OREANDA-NEWS. Alstom has signed a contract worth around €100 million with Public Transport Victoria (PTV), the State’s public transport authority, to supply nine additional X’Trapolis trainsets for Melbourne’s suburban rail network. This will expand PTV’s fleet to 101 trains (606 cars) delivered from Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Ballarat since 2002. The new trains will begin production at Ballarat’s facility in late 2017 with delivery of the 101st train expected in late 2018.

This order coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Ballarat site. With privatisation of public assets in the late 1990’s, the workshops were acquired by Alstom in 1999. 

Alstom X’Trapolis trains have proven to be the most reliable trains on the Melbourne network and will further enhance the network’s capacity while also increasing the reliability of the entire system. Composed of six cars, the 145 metre long train has been designed to optimise the capacity (1,430 passengers) whilst maximising passenger experience, comfort or safety. 

“We are proud to have been trusted by the Victorian government to supply a further 9 trains from our industrial base in Ballarat. This will guarantee regional jobs, training and investment and ensure ongoing support to Alstom’s extensive network of local suppliers.