Sunday 8th December 2024 marked a historic day with Melbourne's brand new X'trapolis 2.0 train riding the rails for the first time! Set 8000 is the first of 25 new X'trapolis 2.0 trains to be constructed at Alstom's Ballarat North Workshops. Funded in the 2021-22 state budget for $986 million, these trains will be used by Metro Trains Melbourne to continue the replacement of the ageing Comeng fleet which are now over 40 years old.
Southern Shorthaul Railroad's T386 & P12 were hired to transfer the new train from Ballarat North Workshops to the Newport Workshops in Melbourne. We start the chase with the train departing Ballarat North Workshops and arriving into Ballarat station for a quick inspection.
Traveling to Melbourne via Bacchus Marsh, we see the train depart Ballarat at Warrenheip Bank before seeing it at various locations including Ballan, Bank Box Loop, Maddingley, Rockbank, and Somerville Road. We finish the video with the train arriving into the Newport Workshops.
The first train will now begin an comprehensive testing and commissioning process. Should all go well the first of these new trains will enter passenger service in late-2025 on the Craigieburn, Frankston, and Upfield Lines.
This video was filmed with @TazzieTransport
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