Yarra trams Hires 5 trams from France.

tranzitjim · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:37 am

Did just hear this on the 11:00 radio news, and below is the media release from Yarra trams.

We are to get 5 trams from France, they will operate on route 96.

To be in service, between May and September 2008, and leased until 2011

http://www.yarratrams.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-39/44_read-1271/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media release from the Minister for Public Transport

Thursday 7 February 2008

The Brumby Government will boost Melbourne’s busiest tram route with five new trams under a unique international lease arrangement with France, Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, announced today.

Ms Kosky said five new high-capacity, low-floor trams would be put on Route 96 (East Brunswick-St Kilda Beach) as part of the Government’s plan to meet unprecedented patronage growth ahead of a long-term tram procurement program.

“This deal is about ensuring our iconic tram network keeps pace with Victoria’s growing and changing transport needs and delivers on the Brumby Government’s commitment to continue finding new and innovative ways to improve public transport,” Ms Kosky said.

“While patronage growth on trams remained relatively steady at 3 per cent over the past decade it climbed to 5.3 per cent in the 12 months to September last year. When the rare opportunity to lease these trams arose we acted quickly to secure them.”

The five trams will be leased to December 2011 from the town of Mulhouse in France by Yarra Trams through its French shareholder Transdev, which operates Mulhouse’s tram network.

The trams are equivalent in size to the longest trams currently operating in Melbourne and can carry about 240 passengers at a time.

Ms Kosky said allocating the five new longer trams to Route 96 would mean other trams currently being used on the route could be re-allocated to other routes, providing more capacity across the tram network.

“During peak hour these five new trams will be able to carry up to 1200 people which is equivalent to taking more than 1000 cars off Melbourne’s roads,” she said.

“It also means that Route 96, which already has a high proportion of platform stops, will now be serviced entirely by low-floor trams, significantly improving accessibility for passengers.

“The first of the five new trams will arrive by ship from France next week with the other four to arrive in coming months. All five trams are expected to be in service by September.”

Yarra Trams chief executive Dennis Cliche said the five new trams would greatly improve the operating efficiency of the Melbourne tram network.

“Yarra Trams will make minor modifications to the new trams at its Preston workshops to make them suitable for Melbourne’s conditions, including boosting air-conditioning,” Mr Cliche said.

“Alstom, the tram’s manufacturer, has been working closely with Yarra Trams to facilitate the delivery of the trams.”

Ms Kosky said the new trams would assist in meeting projected growth on the network ahead of the Government’s tram procurement program flagged for 2010-2011 in its 10-year, $10.5 billion transport blueprint Meeting Our Transport Challenges.

Myrtone · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:37 pm

Oh, I haven't heard that one. I was hoping that for at least one time when the Croatian low floor tram design is eventually built in a standard gauge bidirectional version, it will be demonstrated here, but unfortunately, the money has gone elsewhere.

PalmerEldritch · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:04 pm

Found at: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/state-to-lease-french-trams/2008/02/07/1202234018367.html

tranzitjim · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:33 pm

On 3AW radio news, a YT person had said 'These trams will go on route 96, and will cause a cascade of trams off #96, to improve capacity on other routes, namely the 112, and 55.

I wonder how many other routes will receive a cascaded tram, and how many of them will end up on either 112 and 55.

I believe that #96 still has some B class trams on it, so would those B class be what gets cascaded off route #96?

Would any of the Zs on #55 then be cascaded off to somewhere else?

connexwest · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:44 pm

With these trams arriving, expect a few depots to also benefit, with Camberwell being at least one depot set to get trams from Southbank- most likely B class they'll be getting.

Rob

Check out my tram pictures at http://robsgallery.fotopic.net/

standard_gauge · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:46 pm

Pretty much similar to Eurotram/New Combino demostration for the last few years. And is a good idea too, save money for YT and government from spending millions on new trams.

There are alot of rolling stock hiring companies in Europe it's not funny!

EDIT, Alstom? shouldn't that be United Group Rail in charge of this onbehalf? I guess it will be some sort of Alstom product.

Hey?..whatever happen to my warning level?

route14 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:20 pm

If B class get cascaded off route 96, it's less likely that I'll travel by route 96 again.

Tremere · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:28 pm

This is what we'll be seeing on Route 96:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/fr/trams/Mulhouse/Citadis/2020-2027/pix.html

Certainly going to turn a few heads Very Happy

Can they not put it in the standard Yarra Trams livery..

r707 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:35 pm

Given the length of time they will be here, it would seem logical that they would recieve YT livery, even if its entirely stickers rather than paint.

Confucius Say man who fart in church sits in his own pew

DalyWaters · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:36 pm

Whats going on in Mulhouse that they can spare 5 trams for so long???

r707 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:38 pm

Mulhouse has one line, and are building a 2nd tram route presently. They ordered enough stock to run both lines, so until their second line opens in 2012, they have a significant surplus.

Confucius Say man who fart in church sits in his own pew

calt · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:39 pm

Mulhouse ordered enough trams for their entire system, but not all lines are ready and they have an excess of stock.

Tremere · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:40 pm

Mr. Lane · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:39 pm

Mr. Lane · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:43 pm