Today’s
Victorian budget will include a rail announcement worth $2 billion over the next
decade.
In a joint statement from Premier and transport minister yesterday, premier Daniel Andrews
announced 100 new metro trains, 100 new trams and a “massive expansion” of
regional trains.
The premier
said the Trains, Trams, Jobs
2015-2025 – Victorian Rolling Stock Strategy would
provide greater certainty for the state’s manufacturers of rolling stock.
“Victoria is the only state that makes trams
and trains,” said Andrews.
“We want to see these industries grow and
employ more people, which is why we’re investing strongly.”
The opposition said Andrews had announced
what was already Coalition policy.
“Daniel Andrews’ photocopier must be pretty busy because
he’s been out photocopying former Coalition government policy,” The Age reports opposition leader Matthew Guy as saying.
According to
the government, it would coordinate an adequate supply of manufacturing skills
to meet the new order through TAFE providers.
The Age also reports that among the announcement was 20 E-Class trams, to be manufactured at
Dandenong’s Bombardier factory for 2018 delivery.
According to
yesterday’s announcement, the budgeted $2 billion will be allocated as below
- $1.3 billion for 37 new High
Capacity Metro Trains - $274 million for 20 E-Class
Trams - $257 million for 21 VLocity
Carriages - $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
Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/