Yarra Trams CEO Michel Masson, managing director of Bombardier Transport Dan Osborne, John Barry from the Department of Transport and Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder inspecting the mock-up of Melbourne’s new trams. 69469
By Emma Sun
MELBOURNE’S new state-of-the-art trams will benefit disability groups, according to Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder.
Mr Mulder, along with Yarra Trams CEO Michel Masson and John Barry from the Department of Transport, toured the Bombardier factory in Dandenong last Wednesday, to see the mock-up of the new fleet of trams.
“People who are vision-impaired, people who are in wheelchairs have an opportunity to have some say in the way that these particular trams are going to be manufactured,” Mr Mulder said. “There have been some design changes as a result of that consultation process.”
Managing director of Bombardier Transportation Dan Osborne said the consultation and mock-up process has been invaluable. “I believe that it will deliver Melbourne commuters an excellent result,” he said. “The quality of the mock-up and the design of the tram speak for themselves.”
The FLEXITY trams can carry a total of 214 passengers, including 150 standing and 64 sitting.
They feature five double doors per side and large windows to make tram travelling comfortable and convenient for passengers.
“These new trams will be state of the art – they’ll have all the onboard technology, information for people who are travelling onboard, and it’s going to be a great ride for people who do use the tram network here in Melbourne. The $300 million project will be complemented with upgrades to about 90 tram stops.
The first of the 50 new trams are expected to be delivered late next year.
