Wikipedia

X'Trapolis 2.0

The X'Trapolis 2.0 is a series of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains produced for the suburban rail network of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, Australia. The trains are part of Alstom's X'Trapolis family. Construction of the trains started in 2024 at Alstom's Ballarat North Workshops,[6] and testing began in March 2025.[7][8][better source needed]

X'Trapolis 2.0
X'Trapolis 2.0 (Set 2) transfer to East Pakenham passing Hawksburn,
March 2025
Interior of the X'Trapolis 2.0 mock-up, June 2023
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
ManufacturerAlstom
AssemblyBallarat, Australia
Built atBallarat North Workshops
Family nameX'Trapolis
ReplacedComeng
Entered service2025 (estimated)[1][2]
Number under construction150 carriages (25 sets) (total)
Formation6-car sets
Mc–Tp–M1–M2–Tp–Mc
Capacity1241 (443 seated, 798 standing)
OperatorsMetro Trains Melbourne
DepotsCraigieburn
Lines servedCraigieburn Upfield Frankston
Specifications
Train length143.35 m (470 ft 3+11⁄16 in)
Car length
  • 24,435 mm (80 ft 2 in) (Mc)
  • 23.62 m (77 ft 5+15⁄16 in) (Tp/M)
Width3.03 m (9 ft 11+5⁄16 in)
Height3.7 m (12 ft 1+11⁄16 in) (excluding roof equipment)
Floor height1.17 m (3 ft 10 in)
Maximum speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Weight389 t (383 long tons; 429 short tons)[3]
Traction motors16[4]
Acceleration1.2 m/s2 (3.9 ft/s2)
Deceleration
  • 1.15 m/s2 (3.8 ft/s2) (service)
  • 1.35 m/s2 (4.4 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collectionPantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Coupling systemDellner[5]
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge

The X'Trapolis 2.0 will replace the ageing Comeng fleet on the Craigieburn, Upfield, and Frankston lines.[9]

Construction

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In the 2021–22 state budget, the Victorian Government announced $986 million in funding for an initial order of 25 new X'Trapolis 2.0 trains to be built by rolling stock manufacturer Alstom, which built the X'Trapolis 100 trains used on much of the Melbourne rail network.[10][11] The $986 million funding also included an upgrade to the Craigieburn train maintenance facility, to support maintaining and storing the new fleet.[11]

In 2023, a life-size mock-up of the train was put on display to receive feedback on its design and accessibility features.[12]

The X'Trapolis 2.0 trains are being built at Alstom's Dandenong & Ballarat North Workshops with a 60% local content quota to support local manufacturing jobs.[9] The government claims the project will support 750 jobs and ensure continued operation of the Ballarat North Workshops,[13] following concern by Alstom and trade unions about the facility's future.[14] On 19 November 2024, the first X'Trapolis 2.0 train was completed.[15][16]

Testing of the trains began on 7 March 2025 on the Werribee line, between Newport and Laverton stations.[17][18] The trains will eventually replace the Comeng fleet on the Craigieburn, Upfield and Frankston lines.[9] The Comeng trains are the oldest trains currently in operation on Melbourne's suburban rail network, having been first introduced in 1982.[19]

 
X'Trapolis 2.0 (Set 1+3) stopped at Tecoma during gradient testing on the Belgrave line, August 2025

In August 2025, grade testing began on the Belgrave line between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave. This testing was conducted to assess the train's ability to handle steep gradients and its acceleration and deceleration performance on such terrain. The testing was not intended to certify the X'Trapolis 2.0 for regular service on the Belgrave line, as these trains are not planned to operate on that line.[20]

Design

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The X'Trapolis 2.0 trains are a six-car electric multiple unit design, similar to the seven-car High Capacity Metro Train,[12] compared to the Comeng, X'Trapolis 100 and Siemens Nexas trains which are three-car sets run in tandem. Much like the High Capacity Metro Train and the Siemens Nexas, the X'Trapolis 2.0 uses a continuous walk-through design.[12] The trains are designed for a maximum capacity of 1241 people, a slight improvement over the 1127-person capacity of a six-car Comeng train.[13]

Features of the X'Trapolis 2.0 also include:

  • Wide doors to reduce boarding and alighting times to under 40 seconds
  • Passenger information systems that display journey information in real time
  • 20 wheelchairs-designated spaces, and seating designed for bicycle and pram storage[21]
  • Semi-automatic wheelchair ramps located behind driver cabs[14]

References

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  1. ^ "New train and tram orders". Victorian Department of Transport. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Ballarat plant bags $1b contract for 25 new Melbourne trains". The Age. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. ^ Metro Trains Melbourne circular SW.537/2024
  4. ^ Hibbins, Sam [@Sam_Hibbins] (17 November 2020). "Designs and technical details of the X'Trapolis 2.0" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Dellner Australia's Footprint" (PDF). Dellner. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Metro Trains Melbourne on LinkedIn: Production on 25 brand new X'Trapolis 2.0 trains has kicked-off in…". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  7. ^ Condous, Liv (8 May 2024). "Melbourne is getting 25 new ultra-modern trains called X'Trapolis 2.0, with an almost $1 billion price tag". TimeOut. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  8. ^ aussiewongm (10 March 2025). XTrapolis 2.0 testing on the Werribee line. Retrieved 9 July 2025 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b c "X'Trapolis 2.0 - modern trains for a modern Melbourne". www.vic.gov.au. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Brand-New Trains To Improve Travel And Back Victorian Jobs | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  11. ^ a b "X'Trapolis trains to be Ballarat built". Victoria Department of Transport. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  12. ^ a b c "X'Trapolis 2.0 mock-up". Daniel Bowen. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b Jacks, Timna (18 May 2021). "Ballarat plant bags $1b contract for 25 new Melbourne trains". The Age. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b Jacks, Timna (15 July 2019). "New train designs revealed, but contract under threat". The Age. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  15. ^ B, Kate (19 November 2024). "First X'Trapolis 2.0 train rolls off Ballarat production line". Australian Manufacturing. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  16. ^ "First Bigger, Better X'Trapolis 2.0 Train Built In Ballarat". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  17. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (31 May 2025). "A huge winter of works is getting underway on Big Build". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  18. ^ Hall, Tim (2 June 2025). "Winter work ramps up". Infrastructure Magazine. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Simpler and clearer journey information on Metro's Comeng trains". www.metrotrains.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  20. ^ X'Trapolis 2.0 12 Car Testing to Belgrave. Tazzie Transport. 17 August 2025.
  21. ^ Chan, Ray (17 May 2023). "Show and tell for X'Trapolis 2.0 train mock-up". Rail Express. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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