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On 12 September 2017, Keolis’s Australian subsidiary, Keolis Downer, was awarded a renewal of its contract to operate Yarra Trams on behalf of the Victorian government in Melbourne, Australia. Yarra trams is the largest tram network in the world. The renewal took place on 30 November 2017 and will expire in 2024.
Changes to the previous contract include digital information, accessibility enhancements, and more frontline employees providing passenger assistance across the network. This will allow Keolis Downer to create 100 new jobs in addition to the 300 new jobs created under the previous contract.
The 300 new jobs allowed Keolis Downer to significantly increase the number of women working for the network (up 67%) as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion.
Keolis will support the Victorian government’s investment in a tram refurbishment program over the next five years through maintenance and renewal projects. Melbourne’s tram network, operated by Keolis Downer since 2009, includes 24 regular routes and the free City Circle tram. It counts more than 155 mi of double track and more than 1,700 tram stops, with approximately 410 trams operating during peak times.
Keolis chief executive officer (CEO) international, Bernard Tabary, declared, “We are very pleased by the trust that the Victorian government has placed in Keolis for the next seven years. We will continue working closely with our client to operate the tram network more efficiently and to enhance the passenger experience by delivering safe, reliable, clean, and easy-to-use services every day. The new contract reinforces our presence in Australia and our world leadership in tram network operations.”
Keolis is the world leader for tram operations. The company operates 1,300 trams, with 75 lines spanning 500 mi of track around the world in the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, France, Portugal, Canada, and Australia. Keolis’s operations and maintenance in Australia are handled through a joint venture with Downer, a provider of engineering, transport, and infrastructure services in Australia and New Zealand.
The joint venture has 4,000 employees and a presence in five Australian states. In addition to Yarra Trams, Keolis Downer operates and maintains the Gold Coast light rail network in Queensland.
Full article: IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, Volume 13, Number 1, March 2018 |
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