Design for high-capacity trains finalised after lengthy community consultation

ZONES for prams and bicycles will be created in a bid to free space on Melbourne’s new high capacity trains.

MELBOURNE’S congestion-busting high-capacity new trains will have zones for prams and bicycles in a bid to free space.

Final designs for the next-generation trains, which will hit the rails from mid-2019, have been provided to the Sunday Herald Sun.

After 12 months of community consultation, the Andrews Government has made 157 changes to the initial layout to make each train as user-friendly as possible.

SOLUTIONS TO EASE TRAIN PAIN

They will boast new mixed-use spaces in the middle carriages to cater for bicycles, prams and other clunky items, while storage underneath seats will prevent bags cluttering aisles. More hand rails, extra priority seating, wider aisles and non-slip floors will also be included.

An artist's impression showing the interior of the high-capacity trains.

Under the plans, the trains are expected to have 510 seats and enough space for about 1100 passengers. It’s understood the number of seats per carriage is on par with existing models, but more space will be created from a longer design and an extra carriage.

Acting Minister for Public Transport Luke Donnellan said hundreds of Victorians had given feedback to make the new trains user-friendly.

“We’re making up for four years of complete inaction under the former Liberal government — building bigger trains to carry more passengers and support local jobs,” he said.

Another view of the proposed interior of the high-capacity trains.

The government budgeted $2 billion for the 65 new trains and the construction project is expected to create 1100 local jobs over its lifetime.

The design will be revealed to the public next month, with a full-scale model of the new trains to be displayed at Birrarung Marr, by the Yarra River, from February 9 to 18.

The high-capacity trains will start passenger services on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines from mid-2019.