The Victorian Labor government has pledged almost $1 billion from the state budget to build 25 new “reliable and energy” efficient trains. Speaking in Ballarat on May 18, acting premier James Merlino said the state government’s project would create almost 750 jobs—including 150 jobs at Ballarat’s Alstom factory—in manufacturing and across the supply chain in Victoria. “These are trains made in Victoria, for Victorians, by Victorians—supporting local jobs at a time we need them most,” Merlino said. The new X’Trapolis 2.0 trains will support the gradual retirement of Victoria’s current Coming fleet, with the trains set to run through Melbourne’s Craigieburn, Upfield, and Frankston lines. The project will also see an upgrade to the Craigieburn Train Maintenance Facility. The trains will be designed to carry 1200 people, beyond Comeng capacity of about 760. The announcement follows two years of campaigning from Alstom and the unions for job security for the 70 …