X'Trapolis 2.0
| Industry | Rolling stock manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Products | X'Trapolis 2.0 EMU trains |
Number of employees | 750 (estimated jobs maintained at Ballarat North Workshops) |
The X'Trapolis 2.0 represents a new generation of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains specifically designed for Melbourne's suburban rail system in Victoria, Australia. As a member of the Alstom X'Trapolis train family, its production commenced in 2024 at Alstom's Ballarat North Workshops, with operational testing initiated in March 2025.
Intended to succeed the outdated Comeng fleet, these trains will operate on the Craigieburn, Upfield, and Frankston routes, aligning with Metro Trains Melbourne’s initiative to modernize services. The nearly $1 billion contract encompasses manufacturing 150 carriages arranged into 25 six-car train sets, aiming to boost both passenger capacity and service dependability on major suburban corridors.
Construction
The Victorian Government allocated $986 million in the 2021–22 state budget for the procurement of 25 X'Trapolis 2.0 train sets, to be produced by rolling stock manufacturer Alstom, which also built the widely used X'Trapolis 100 fleet across Melbourne. This investment also covers enhancements to the Craigieburn maintenance depot to accommodate the new trains.
In 2023, a full-scale mock-up was unveiled to collect stakeholder input regarding design elements and accessibility features.
Manufacturing takes place at Alstom's Ballarat North Workshops, where a local content requirement of 60% supports regional employment. The government projects that this initiative will maintain approximately 750 jobs and secure the long-term operation of the Ballarat North facility, addressing concerns raised by Alstom and labor unions about its sustainability. The first completed unit was delivered on 19 November 2024.
Testing operations commenced on 7 March 2025 along the Werribee line, between Newport and Laverton. These units are set to replace the aging Comeng trains on the Craigieburn, Upfield, and Frankston lines. Introduced in 1982, the Comeng fleet currently represents the oldest rolling stock within Melbourne’s suburban network.
Design
The X'Trapolis 2.0 trains consist of six-car electric multiple units, comparable to the seven-car High Capacity Metro Train, and differ from the three-car sets of the Comeng, X'Trapolis 100, and Siemens Nexas fleets that typically operate coupled together. Featuring a continuous walk-through interior layout similar to both High Capacity Metro Train and Siemens Nexas models, these trains enhance passenger flow. Their maximum capacity reaches 1,241 passengers, surpassing the six-car Comeng train’s capacity of 1,127.
Notable specifications include:
- Wide entry doors designed to minimize boarding and alighting times to under 40 seconds
- Real-time passenger information displays
- Provision for 20 wheelchair spaces along with seating arrangements accommodating bicycles and prams
- Semi-automatic wheelchair ramps positioned behind each driver’s cab