BEAT THE CRUSH THE GREENS’ PLAN TO CUT OVERCROWDING ON OUR TRAMS

Melbourne loves its trams and it is showing, with more and more of us crowding into already full trams. More trams will reduce overcrowding. The Greens will purchase an additional 50 trams to be built in Dandenong.

Our tram system is one of the best in the world, contributing negotiate with the builder, Bombardier Transportation Australia to making Melbourne a wonderful place to live. But lack of Pty Ltd, to deliver them faster. attention and poor policy from the Government is making overcrowding on Melbourne’s trams worse. Victoria’s This order is already running 12 months late. population is growing by more than 2,100 people each week and more and more commuters are using trams to get THE GREENS’ PLAN FOR CUTTING around. OVERCROWDING

Neglect over time by both Liberal and Labor governments The Greens will buy an additional 50 trams on top of the 50 means the system is lagging well behind demand. already ordered to ensure our tram system can keep up with demand into the future. Many commuters stand crammed together swaying in 25 year old trams. This is not a pleasant way to start or finish a We will take up the tram contract’s existing option to fast-track busy working day. the trams on order. The sooner the new trams are out on the tracks, the quicker the unacceptable overcrowding on many routes will be reduced. OVERCROWDING GETTING WORSE The Greens’ plan to double the number of trams being built Melbourne’s tram services are full or dangerously will expand capacity by an extra 10,500 passengers and cost an overcrowded, particularly in morning peak as they estimated $350 million, including extending the maintenance approach the Melbourne CBD. contract. There may be additional costs for associated infrastructure. The Government predicts that an additional 6.1 million tram journeys will be made in the 2014-15 year, which equates to more than 16,000 trips per day. SECURING JOBS

During morning peak hour in the CBD, Melbourne’s tram The new E-class trams are being made at Dandenong creating lines are at 99% capacity, with some running at nearly around 500 local jobs. Our policy will see more jobs created 150% capacity. and these important manufacturing jobs lasting longer.

There is an existing contract for 50 new trams, which contains an option to purchase additional trams and also to

AUSTRALIAN GREENS VICTORIA • CUT OVERCROWDING ON OUR TRAMS 2014 •PAGE 1 Authorised and printed by Greg Barber, 1/362 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 BEAT THE CRUSH THE GREENS’ PLAN TO CUT OVERCROWDING ON OUR TRAMS

BENEFITS OF MORE TRAMS The Greens stand for trains and trams not toll roads. Rather than spend billions on the East-West toll road we would re- Trams are Melbourne’s success story with other cities now direct that money to improve overcrowding and services by looking to copy us. Los Angeles, for example, recently buying more trams and building new rail lines. approved a tram extension plan that could eventually see them have more kilometers of track than Melbourne. OTHER PARTIES Melbourne’s 450 trams currently in service are on average 25 years old. An additional 100 new trams will make a Little has been done by this government to address the chronic significant difference to the everyday experience of people overcrowding on our trams and trains or improve services. using our tram network. Instead, they have committed $18 billion to a toll road.

Trams are used by diverse groups of people, not just inner- Labor remains confused on the East West Toll Road and has no city residents. City commuters, tourists and country plans for reducing overcrowding on our trams. visitors value our trams highly for travelling to work, hospitals, universities and Melbourne’s attractions. REFERENCES

Statistics on overcrowding from Yarra Trams Load Survey It would take at least 12 of the new super-sized E-class trams Report October 2013 to carry the growth in passengers in peak hour just from last http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/Loads/Yarra- year’s new passengers, not taking into account future growth Trams-Load-Survey-October-2013.pdf and relieving existing overcrowding on other routes. Details of the contract to purchase more trams from Trams play an essential role in making Melbourne the “Ministerial Briefing, Tram Tender – Evaluations of liveable city it is, with many of our most vibrant shopping Outcomes” 27 September 2010, released to Greg Barber and entertainment areas situated along tram routes. MLC under Freedom of Information. The new low floor E-class trams have a capacity of 210 Information about the E-class trams from the PTV website passengers and in combination with raised platforms will http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/trams/new-e-class-trams/ make tram travel more accessible for people in wheelchairs as well as people travelling with prams or shopping Facts and figures on current trams in service from Yarra trolleys. As a result people can get on and off quicker and Trams: http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/who-we- more safely and the trams are more efficient at getting us are/facts-figures/ where we want to go. Los Angeles tram extension information:

THE GREENS STAND UP FOR PUBLIC http://www.metro.net/projects/ TRANSPORT

The Greens have been consistently strong advocates for better public transport in Victoria. Our MPs regularly use Melbourne’s public transport system, experiencing first- hand the benefits and frustrations shared by many Victorians.

AUSTRALIAN GREENS VICTORIA • CUT OVERCROWDING ON OUR TRAMS 2014 •PAGE 2 Authorised and printed by Greg Barber, 1/362 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000