The Andrews Labor Government will invest $2 billion to kick start a long-term plan for train and tram manufacturing in Victoria, securing existing jobs in the industry and creating new jobs.

Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams welcomed the launch of Trains, Trams, Jobs 2015-2025 – Victorian Rolling Stock Strategy, which sets out the Andrews Labor Government’s ten-year plan for 100 new metropolitan trains, 100 new trams, and a massive expansion of our regional train fleet.

Dandenong is one of Victoria’s most important rolling stock manufacturing centres, with local manufacturer Bombardier producing fifty of the E-Class trams operating on Melbourne’s tram network and close to one hundred VLocity carriages operating on Victoria’s regional train network.

Tomorrow’s 2015-16 Victorian Budget will provide $2 billion for hundreds of train and tram carriages, including:

 $1.3 billion for 37 new High Capacity Metro Trains

 $274 million for 20 E-Class Trams

 $257 million for 21 VLocity Carriages announced recently to be built in Dandenong

 $90 million for five New X’Trapolis Trains

 $75 million for maintenance and refurbishment to extend the life of the current Comeng train fleet

 $21 million to extend the life of the B-Class Tram fleet

The multi-billion investment will provide greater certainty to rolling stock manufacturers and suppliers, which employ up to 10,000 people in Victoria.

Beyond this initial investment, Trains, Trams, Jobs 2015-2025 identifies a pipeline of train and tram delivery to meet the needs of the public transport network for decades to come. This will enable companies like Bombardier to invest in facilities, in new technology and in workers, sustaining high-skill manufacturing in Victoria.

Investing in trains and trams will also provide education and training opportunities. The Labor Government will work with the TAFE sector to develop programs for apprentices in the rolling stock industry, training the next generation of engineers.