Bombardier wins Australian DMU contract

Australia's Public Transport Victoria (PTV) ordered 40 additional Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) cars of the successful VLocity design from rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation. The order is valued at approximately $198 million.

Bombardier will provide 19 additional intermediate cars to convert existing two-car train sets to three-car sets and supply seven additional new three-car train sets. This will result in a total fleet of 58 three-car Bombardier VLocity trains.

Operated by V/Line Passenger, the VLocity fleet has been in service since 2005 linking regional centers to Melbourne. In that time, the VLocity trains have contributed to a 120% patronage increase thanks to their performance and passenger comfort as well as their class leading levels of reliability and availability.

The VLocity DMUs have been designed in Australia and are manufactured at Bombardier's Dandenong site. The trains feature the Bombardier Mitrac control system and Bombardier-built bogies as well as up to 70% local content including the stainless steel carbodies.

The Regional Rail Link will create capacity for an extra 23 suburban and 10 regional services during each morning and evening at peak times, allowing an extra 54,000 passenger trips each day.