The Government of Victoria has promised that Melbourne’s public transport network will carry an extra 150,000 passengers a day under a $3.9 billion rail investment that will deliver 3,500 new jobs; it will also buy more than 170 new trains and rail cars.

Premier Denis Napthine said this means that the Government will deliver more than one new train per month to the network for the next 10 years, starting from July 2015.

The order includes 75 high-capacity trains, 75 E-class trams and 24 VLocity railcars for the V/Line network. These are in addition to the 25 new trains the Government has ordered from Ballarat-based Alstom as part of the upgrades to the Cranbourne and Pakenham rail corridor.

Mr Napthine said: “While other states have lost their rail manufacturers, the Coalition is backing local rolling-stock manufacturers and local skilled workers to continue to deliver world-class trains and trams. Other states will be able to buy their rolling stock from Victoria.”

The new trains will be required to have a minimum of 50% local content, up from the 30% minimum in existing orders.