Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (09:43): I rise to celebrate an exciting milestone for public transport in my electorate of Niddrie. The brand new, next-generation trams have officially hit route 59, with testing bringing us one step closer to passenger services. As a former Minister for Public Transport I am genuinely excited to see these brand new trams hitting our tracks soon. I am also thrilled that my community of Niddrie will be among the first to benefit from the largest investment in tram rolling stock in Victoria’s history, thanks to our Labor government. I want to thank the Minister for Public and Active Transport for visiting my electorate last month and helping to mark this exciting milestone. These new trams are currently undertaking late-night tests as part of the government’s rigorous testing and commissioning process, ahead of safely taking passengers later this year. We all know, having grown up in Airport West and Niddrie, that sound of the tram – the 59 – that city soundscape. This is a world-renowned symbol of our city that will take people from Airport West and Niddrie right through to Flinders Street, a major arterial route in Melbourne’s north-west. I am particularly pleased about their accessibility, with the low-floor design of the new trams making it easier for people with mobility aids, parents with prams, as well as older Victorians. The new trams will be housed and maintained in the brand new Maidstone tram facility, helping to deliver world-class services in public transport to Melbourne’s west. Most importantly too, these trams are built by hardworking manufacturing jobs right here in Victoria. So if you are a night owl, keep an eye out for the new trams during the testing.