Minister for Public Transport and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, today farewelled the third restored W-Class tram on its way back to Melbourne to run on the City Circle.
Ms Allan joined Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, as well as representatives from Public Transport Victoria, Yarra Trams and the Bendigo Trust at the Bendigo Tramways Depot & Workshop to celebrate the milestone today.
The refurbished tram will join two historic W-Class trams previously restored in Bendigo, which are serving the millions of passengers that travel on the City Circle each year.
The W-Class trams, which were first introduced onto Melbourne’s tram network in the 1940s and 1950s, are restored as close to their original appearance as possible, while improving passenger safety comfort and reliability.
Each restoration is a significant and complex undertaking involving extensive stripping down and rebuilding. The complete refurbishment of the third W-Class tram includes:
- new impact resistant driver’s cabin
- removal of high voltage wiring from the driver’s cabin
- new electronics and wiring to allow for GPS surveillance and improved electrical performance
- a complete rebuild of the body to include better safety features
- painting and restoring the green and gold livery.
The fourth W-Class tram is currently being refurbished at the Bendigo Tramways and is scheduled for completion in late 2015.
Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“W-Class trams have been running since the 1940s and thanks to the hard work of Bendigo Tramways they will continue to show passengers everything Melbourne has to offer for years to come.”
“Trams have changed significantly in the past 70 years, so restoring them is not just about returning them to their former glory – it’s also about bringing them into the twenty-first century in terms of safety, reliability and comfort.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards
“I want to thank the local craftsmen and women who have breathed new life into this historic tram, and everyone involved in this wonderful program.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020