On the right trams

By Lia Bichel
DANDENONG tram manufacture Bombardier has been awarded the tender to manufacture 50 of Melbourne’s new trams – creating about 500 additional jobs and strengthening the local manufacturing industry.
Bombardier is designing, constructing and maintaining the trams as part of an $807.6 million investment by the State Government.
The new trams will be approximately 33 metres in length, able to carry more than 210 passengers, fitted with CCTV and be fully accessible for passengers in wheelchairs and the elderly.
The new order will include 50.3 per cent local manufacturing content with the tram shells to be constructed at the company’s Dandenong plant.
Bombardier Director of Operations Stuart Inglis said he was relieved when he heard the news on Monday.
“I dread to think how we would have felt if we weren’t successful, having put so much effort and money into our submissions. There was a community feel behind our submissions – a lot of local industries and people were involved and supported our tender,” he said.
“We are absolutely delighted and very proud that the Department of Transport decided to partner with us to deliver the trams.”
City of Greater Dandenong Mayor Cr Jim Memeti said the announcement was a great boost for the city.
“I would like to congratulate Dandenong-based manufacturing company Bombardier on being awarded the contract to build 50 new trams in Melbourne,” he said.
“The City of Greater Dandenong has a long and proud manufacturing history and this announcement only reinforces its role as Melbourne’s manufacturing capital.”
“This significant investment in local manufacturing is great news for job creation in Melbourne’s south-east and is an important boost to the local economy.”
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan MP said Bombardier was also continuing to improve Victoria’s train networks, with 32 new VLocity carriages being rolled out from the Dandenong plant.
“This investment in new trams and VLocity carriages means a better transport network and more local jobs, and continues to make the local manufacturing industry stronger,” he said.
South Eastern Metropolitan MP Gordon Rich-Phillips welcomed the creation of new jobs.
“With the local unemployment rate of 13.6 per cent it’s great that Bombardier will be manufacturing these trams here in Dandenong,” he said.
Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said the building of the trams in Dandenong further strengthened the economic prosperity in Melbourne’s south east.
“The order is a boost to our tram fleet and is a fantastic endorsement of our local manufacturing industry with major components built at Dandenong as well as assembly and testing,” he said.
A prototype mock-up tram will be unveiled next year to ensure the trams’ design meets the needs of key stakeholders including the elderly and disabled. The trams will be fully accessible for people in wheelchairs on routes which are equipped with level access ‘platform’ stops and be fully air-conditioned. The first of the 50 trams will enter service in 2012.