Melbourne has put the first tram from the new-generation G Class, manufactured by Alstom, into service, marking the start of the delivery of a series of 100 vehicles intended to modernise one of the world’s most extensive tram networks.
The first Next Generation Tram (NGT) has entered passenger service in Melbourne, Australia, as part of a EUR 700 million contract awarded to Alstom in 2022. The vehicles are based on the Flexity 2 platform and are manufactured locally at Alstom’s plant in Dandenong, Victoria, with a local content of over 65 per cent.
“As the G Class tram carries its first passengers, this journey highlights what makes Alstom unique: combining world-leading technology with a strong local presence to deliver an Australian-built tram for our customer,” said Ling Fang, Alstom’s President for the Asia-Pacific region.
A tram designed for Melbourne’s passengers
The NGT programme is one of the most significant projects for the Australian rail industry, contributing to the development of local manufacturing capabilities. The trams are being built at Alstom’s Dandenong factory, and the project has supported over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
To strengthen local industrial capacity, Alstom has invested EUR 24 million in infrastructure and equipment at the Dandenong factory.
The new G Class tram has been adapted to the requirements of the Melbourne network following an extensive consultation process involving over 1,000 individuals and organisations, including groups representing people with disabilities, mechanics, passenger representatives and public transport associations.
The vehicle features full platform-level access, regenerative braking, multiple doors and an optimised interior layout. With a capacity of over 150 passengers, it is described as the most accessible tram ever introduced in Melbourne.
The G Class trams will be gradually introduced onto Melbourne’s tram network, where over 80 per cent of the vehicles in service have been manufactured by Alstom at its Dandenong plant during the company’s more than 70 years of operation in Australia.
Alstom will also provide maintenance for the new series of trams through a purpose-built facility in Maidstone, Melbourne, dedicated to maintenance operations for urban rail vehicles.
The new generation of trams marks an important year for Alstom in Australia. In 2026, the company delivered the first X’trapolis 2.0 train in Victoria and the first Australind train in Western Australia, reinforcing the role of local manufacturing in the development of Australian rail transport.
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