Additional fleet of VLocity trains to generate hundreds of local jobs

As part of a $601 million investment through the Victorian Budget 2023/24, the State Government is delivering more VLocity trains to allow more trains to run more often across regional Victoria. 

The significant funding will get another 23 VLocity trains built and support up to 500 local jobs, including in manufacturing. In addition to delivering more trains, the investment is also a response to the Labor Government’s fair regional fares initiative which caps V/Line services at the same price as a daily metropolitan fare. 

“We promised to build new VLocity trains in Victoria, for Victorians, and that’s exactly what we’re doing – making it easier for passengers to travel across our state, as well as supporting hundreds of local jobs and strengthening our economy,” Premier Daniel Andrews said. 

The new fleet of VLocity trains are being progressively rolled out onto the network, replacing older V/Line trains to provide passengers with a more modern, reliable and efficient commute. 

The new VLocity trains will have six accessible spaces for every three-carriage set and include comfortable seats for long-haul journeys as well as a dedicated storage area for bicycles and accessibility improvements. 

The new trains will also increase capacity on the Melton Line while also ensuring locals on the Geelong and Bacchus Marsh lines are travelling comfortably. 

“This is all about putting passengers first and getting them where they need to go, with these new trains to provide more modern, comfortable and reliable journeys,” Member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams said. 

To date, there are over 100 VLocity trains in service. Works on the additional 23 trains will commence at the factory next year after the previous order of 12 VLocity trains from the 22/23 Budget is completed. 

The State Government’s investment in rolling stock is also supporting local maintenance jobs, with an additional 100 maintenance workers at Alstom Ballarat to maintain the new trains once they are operational. 

“We’re continuing to make critical public transport investments where they’re needed most – building these 23 new VLocity trains will not only keep Victorians moving, but also back local jobs,” Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said. 

The Victorian Government is committed to transforming how Victorians travel across the state, with passengers already saving up to $8 million since the introduction of the regional fare cap. 

More than $9 billion has been invested by the State Government since 2014 on rolling stock and supporting infrastructure which, in turn, has generated approximately 10,000 local jobs directly and throughout the supply chain. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Roads & Infrastructure Australia