E-class Melbourne tram
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport manufacturing |
| Headquarters | Dandenong , Australia |
| Products | Trams (E-class for Melbourne) |
| Parent | Alstom (after acquisition) |
The E-class trams consist of three connected sections supported by four bogie assemblies, introduced to the Melbourne tram system starting in 2013. These vehicles were constructed at Bombardier Transportation's Dandenong rolling stock factory—later acquired by Alstom—with their propulsion units and bogies manufactured in Bombardier/Alstom facilities located in Germany.
As a component of the Tram Procurement Program initiated by Public Transport Victoria, the E-class was designed to boost network capacity and dependability through the deployment of new trams, expansion of depots, and enhancement of infrastructure. The initial contract placed in September 2010 ordered 50 trams, with options to acquire an additional 100 units. Subsequent acquisitions included 20 trams in May 2015, followed by further orders of 10 units each in May 2017, September 2018, and May 2019, culminating in a total fleet of 100 vehicles.
The inaugural tram was delivered in June 2013 and commenced service on route 96 from 4 November 2013 after completing testing phases.
E1-class
In July 2009, the Victorian Government invited expressions of interest for the supply of 50 new low-floor trams, stipulating a minimum of 40% local content and service entry by the year 2012.
By October that year, Alstom and Bombardier were shortlisted bidders. The project was designated strategic, requiring at least 25% local manufacturing at the start and increasing to 50% throughout the contract duration, with an expectation to generate approximately 150 jobs.
Bombardier was awarded the contract in September 2010 to deliver 50 Flexity Swift trams, including maintenance services until 2017, with an option for an additional 100 vehicles. Production took place at Bombardier’s Dandenong facility with design contributions from their Brisbane team; meanwhile, propulsion systems and bogies were imported from Germany. These represented the first trams built domestically in Australia for over a decade and the first Melbourne-built trams since 1994.
A two-thirds scale prototype was showcased at the Royal Melbourne Show in August 2011. Delivery schedules were delayed by seven months as announced in August 2012 due to design complexities, postponing operational commencement to July 2013 and project completion to 2018.
The first E-class tram arrived at Yarra Trams' Preston Workshops for testing in June 2013 and was publicly revealed in July. Testing advanced through mid-2013 with two units undergoing non-revenue trials by September. The initial pair entered passenger service on route 96 in November 2013, expanding to five vehicles by January 2014.
In July 2014, it was revealed that additional electrical substations were necessary to accommodate the high power requirements of the E-class trams. These trams began operating on route 11 in June 2015, initially maintained at East Preston depot before transferring to upgraded Preston Workshops in April 2016. Starting November 2016, E-class vehicles also served route 86 alongside routes 11 and to a lesser extent route 96, all managed from Preston Workshops.
E2-class
In May 2015, the State Government commissioned an extra batch of 20 E-class trams featuring an updated design focused on enhanced safety measures; this variant was designated as the E2-class. This redesign responded directly to a marked increase in passenger injuries—boarding and alighting incidents rose fivefold, onboard falls increased by half, and serious injuries reached an eight-year peak.
Safety improvements incorporated reduced glare for improved driver visibility along with added handholds and grab rails for passenger security. An additional order for ten more E2-class trams was placed in May 2017, bringing this subclass total to thirty units valued at $274 million. Late-production E1-class trams were also retrofitted with these safety enhancements.
Further procurement rounds in May and September of 2019 expanded the E2-class fleet size to fifty trams. In October that year, E-class vehicles underwent operational testing on Route 58, broadening their service coverage.
Design
Measuring 33.45 metres in length and 2.65 metres in width, the E1 and E2 class trams consist of three articulated sections supported by four bogies, following the Bombardier Flexity Swift platform. Each end segment rests on a single bogie, while the central section is supported by two bogies. These swiveling bogies are housed within a "wheelbox" positioned beneath the passenger seats, allowing for a seamless low-floor passage throughout the tram. The interior features include slip-resistant flooring, climate control through air conditioning, automated audio-visual passenger information systems, and a maximum capacity of 210 riders.
In contrast to similar Flexity Swift variants equipped with four motors rated between 120 and 150 kW each, the E-class employs six motors of 105 kW each distributed across three bogies, leaving one bogie unpowered.
In service
E-class trams run on Melbourne’s tram lines 11, 30, 58, 86, and 96. They also provide transport for special events at venues such as Melbourne Park, AAMI Park, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground via route 70a since the commencement of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Moreover, these trams ferry crowds to Albert Park for the Australian Grand Prix, operating express services from Southern Cross Station directly to event entrances.
The deployment of E-class trams on route 58 began on 19 December 2021.
Associated works
The Tram Procurement Program, overseen by Public Transport Victoria, sought to boost both capacity and reliability across Melbourne’s tram network. This initiative encompassed acquiring 50 new trams, enhancing route 96 infrastructure, upgrading the electrical power system, improving accessibility on low-floor routes, and refurbishing Preston Workshops along with expanding Southbank depot facilities to accommodate storage and maintenance needs for the E-class fleet.
A $24 million investment was made to upgrade Southbank depot’s maintenance and administrative areas in preparation for the new trams. Improvements along route 96 included installing accessible stops, increasing segregation between trams and road traffic, and prioritizing intersections to facilitate smoother operation of the expanded fleet.