Alstom's First X'trapolis 2.0 EMU Enters Service in Melbourne on €300m Contract

Australia's first X'trapolis 2.0 electric multiple unit manufactured by Alstom entered passenger service in Melbourne on 3 May 2026, marking the start of deliveries under a €300m contract for 25 trainsets.

The deployment represents the first revenue operation of Alstom's second-generation X'trapolis platform in Australia. The initial order for 25 units is set to expand to 50 trainsets as part of Melbourne's fleet modernization programme. The trains are being built locally in Victoria, supporting domestic manufacturing capacity while replacing older rolling stock across the metropolitan network.

The X'trapolis 2.0 fleet features enhanced accessibility provisions compared to the first-generation units already operating in Melbourne. Alstom's manufacturing facility in Victoria is producing the trainsets under the contract, which prioritizes local content and skills development. The new trains are designed to improve passenger capacity and operational reliability on Melbourne's suburban rail corridors.

Melbourne operates one of the world's largest tram networks alongside its suburban rail system. The X'trapolis 2.0 introduction follows established patterns in Australian metropolitan rail procurement, where state governments typically order rolling stock in tranches with options for fleet expansion. The contract structure allows Melbourne to scale deliveries based on ridership growth and service expansion requirements over the coming years.

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