The procurement process for Melbourne’s metropolitan tram franchise has been kicked off by the Victorian Government Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).
Pre-Qualification has officially opened and DTP seeks responses from interested suppliers which have the capacity, capability and commitment to successfully operate the new tram franchise.
Melbourne’s tram network is the largest in the world, with more than 250km of double track, more than 5,000 daily services, 512 trams and more than 1600 tram stops. The service caters for 205 million tram trips per year.
Interested parties can apply online before 12 May 2023. Those that meet the pre-qualification criteria will then be invited to participate in the Request for Proposal phase commencing July 2023.
“This contract represents one of the most significant opportunities for public transport operators globally,” DTP said.
In 2024 the Victorian Government is expected to award the new long-term service contract – the operations and maintenance contract for the trams.
“The tram operations and maintenance will be under a newly designed contract, one that continues to modernise the experience for our passengers and delivers improvements at every stage of the journey,” DTP says.
“The Government has invested significantly in new trams and supporting infrastructure, and this next contract will ensure that these are delivered to benefit passengers.”