YJM was today named as the successful bidder to operate and maintain Melbourne’s 250-kilometre tram network for an initial term of nine years, beginning in December.
The joint venture brings unrivalled transport experience through Transdev – a multi-modal operator in Australia and New Zealand – and John Holland, a leading building, infrastructure and end-to-end rail and transport company.
Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said he was proud and excited of the trust placed in YJM to keep Melbourne moving.
“Choosing YJM to run Yarra Trams is a tremendous honour and privilege because the responsibility and opportunities are immense,” Mr Brennan said.
“Our partnership will support the State’s vision of more integrated, sustainable transport for Victoria and the delivery of Melbourne’s Tram Plan.
“Our focus is performance and customer experience - unlocking smarter ways to move more people, day and night, with the real-time information they need, when they need it.”
John Holland’s Executive General Manager – Rail and Transport Steve Butcher said John Holland was proud to be leveraging its skills and experience in end-to-end rail solutions to write the next chapter for the world’s largest tram network.
“Melburnians deserve a world-class tram network – and we’re proud to be bringing our industry-leading expertise to deliver the best possible passenger experience for this growing city,” Mr Butcher said.
“We’re committed to continuous improvement of the tram network and look forward to operating the fleet of Next Generation Trams, as we deliver the state-of-the-art depot infrastructure that will house them.
“We also pride ourselves on creating a diverse, inclusive and connected workforce that reflects the people we serve every day.”
YJM has a detailed plan in place for the December changeover which prioritises a seamless transition for customers and the existing workforce.
Transdev and John Holland are contracted to operate 20 light rail networks globally, including four Australian light rail networks in Sydney, Parramatta, Canberra and Adelaide. They also operate, as a joint venture, the largest bus contract in Australia in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, providing 49 million passengers trips with more than 1.4m scheduled route services in 2023.
