Alstom has delivered the first X’trapolis 2.0 train into passenger service in Melbourne, Australia, marking a significant milestone for both the manufacturer and the Victorian rail network.
The train is the first of an initial order of 25 units, placed by the Victorian Government in a contract worth 300 million EUR, and was manufactured locally at Alstom’s Dandenong and Ballarat manufacturing sites. The Victorian Government has since announced a budget allocation for a further 25 trains, bringing the total fleet to 50 X’trapolis 2.0 units, with additional trains set to enter service as the rollout continues.
Guillaume Tritter, Managing Director for Alstom Australia and New Zealand, said:
“The entry of the first X’trapolis 2.0 train into passenger service is a proud moment for all involved. I would like to sincerely thank the Alstom team, together with our partners at the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning and Metro Trains Melbourne, for the outstanding collaboration that made this achievement possible. The strength of these relationships has delivered something truly significant — a train built in Victoria, for the people of Melbourne.”
Based on Alstom’s Adessia commuter rail platform, the six-car electric train is capable of carrying up to 1,225 passengers. It features a continuous walkthrough design and wider doors for faster boarding, alongside a range of accessibility improvements including 20 dedicated wheelchair spaces, pram, bike and mixed-use areas, semi-automated ramps, tactile signage, assistive hearing technologies and an updated passenger-driver interface. In total, 58 design refinements were incorporated during initial development, made in direct response to feedback from stakeholders, passengers and drivers.
The project has also had a notable economic impact, with a minimum 60% local content requirement contributing to the sustainability of the broader Victorian rail supply chain. The programme has secured hundreds of skilled manufacturing roles across metropolitan and regional Victoria, as well as up to 750 jobs within the local supply chain.