Alstom Delivers First of 100 G Class Trams in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia – Alstom put the first Next Generation Tram (NGT) into passenger service in Melbourne in July 2026, the first of 100 G Class vehicles ordered under a €700 million contract awarded in 2022. The tram is based on Alstom’s Flexity 2 platform and was built at the company’s Dandenong plant in Victoria. The programme supports more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs in Australia.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The €700 million NGT programme covers the supply of 100 G Class trams and is linked to the creation of a purpose-built Alstom maintenance facility in Maidstone, Melbourne. Alstom has invested EUR 24 million in infrastructure and equipment at Dandenong to strengthen local industrial capacity.

Each tram carries more than 150 passengers and includes full platform-level access, regenerative braking, multiple doors, and an interior developed through consultation with more than 1,000 individuals and organisations. Local content exceeds 65 per cent, making the fleet one of the most locally integrated modern tram procurements in the Asia-Pacific region.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The 100-tram Melbourne order is one-third larger than a comparable Polish rolling-stock contract for 75 trains. Stadler Polska delivered the first nine FLIRT electric trains to Koleje Mazowieckie in May 2026, under contracts signed in 2024–2025, and the package also includes maintenance services and technical staff training (Source: RailwayPro, 2026).

Both programmes show a buyer preference for combining vehicle supply with long-term support rather than separate spare-part and service deals. The total contract value of the Koleje Mazowieckie FLIRT order was not disclosed, and the maintenance component of the Melbourne contract was likewise not separately valued in Alstom’s announcement.

Editor’s Analysis

The Dandenong local-content requirement positions Alstom to compete for future Australian rail work as federal infrastructure spending expands; the 2026–27 Australian Federal Budget includes continuing rail funding such as $659.6 million over three years for the first stage of the Newcastle–Sydney high-speed rail corridor (Source: Rail Express, 2026). Alstom’s ability to show a domestically assembled 100-tram fleet in service also strengthens its case in a market where state governments increasingly weigh local employment impacts during procurement.

FAQ

Q: How many passengers can Melbourne’s new G Class tram carry?
A: The G Class tram has capacity for over 150 passengers. Alstom describes it as the most accessible tram ever introduced in Melbourne, with full platform-level access and multiple doors.

Q: When will all 100 G Class trams be delivered?
A: No official fleet-wide delivery date was disclosed in Alstom’s statement. The first vehicle entered service in July 2026, and the remaining 99 are expected to be introduced gradually onto the network.

Q: Where are the new Melbourne trams being built?
A: They are being assembled at Alstom’s Dandenong plant in Victoria, which has received EUR 24 million in new infrastructure and equipment investment. Local content exceeds 65 per cent of each vehicle.