Passenger rolling stock projections

Latest insights

All states and territories, except Tasmania and the Northern Territory, operate passenger rolling stock. There are over 4,700 urban heavy rail, 1,600 non-urban carriages and 637 trams and light rail vehicles in service today. 

• The operational fleet includes the expansion of Australia’s first driverless metro system, the Sydney Metro Metropolis sets.
• Nearly 90% of Australia’s heavy rail passenger fleets use electric traction. However, this use is split between 1,500 V DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC electrical equipment and systems.
• Western Australia’s new C-series fleet commission and delivery, with the eighth set now entering service.
• The New South Wales Government has committed to start procurement activities by March 2027 for the Tangara fleet replacement. The existing Tangara fleet is now getting an upgrade to extend its life through the mid-2030s.
• Rolling stock that entered service during the last decade is beginning to undergo refurbishments and upgrades.

In this edition: This page contains data as of November 2025

Factors shaping future passenger rolling stock fleets

There are many factors that will influence the existing and future passenger rolling stock fleets. These are wide ranging in scope, but also represent opportunities for Australian industry to participate in future procurements. These are some of the long-term trends that we have identified.

Existing rolling stock

• In the years to come, the current rolling stock fleets will undergo refitting and life extension projects. While passenger rolling stock undergoes routine mid-life overhauls as part of reaching their design life, additional refits and refurbishment can apply including interiors. Existing fleets can be life extended or upgraded to meet changing network needs, roles or increase the economic life of the assets until replaced by new rolling stock.
  • Often these works occur as part of network operations contracts with no separate procurement. Because of this, the procurement pipeline data does not capture these works.
• Operators may seek to improve the accessibility of existing rolling stock. Where existing rolling stock does not meet the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT), it may require future refurbishments or upgrades to meet those standards. This will create opportunities to boost domestic capability in manufacturing and procuring components that meet Australian accessibility standards.

Evolving rail networks and patronage

• The growth of our passenger rail networks will shape future rolling stock needs. Overall, forecast rail civil construction and maintenance spending between 2022–32 is worth $129 billion. This includes the construction of new rail lines or expansion of existing networks. The introduction of metro style operations in Sydney and Melbourne will reshape urban rail transport, or further electrification. Additionally, some networks are converting selected heavy rail lines to metro operations, like the Sydenham to Bankstown line in Sydney for metro operations. In the future, there may also be additional conversions to light rail operations.
• These factors could result in additional modifications or new rolling stock procurements to meet changing operational requirements, for example from suburban to interurban/regional use. These include:
  • government policies incentivising transport mode share shift
  • changing workforce arrangements and places of work
  • population growth or shift in both urban and regional areas
  • hosting large scale events like the Olympic Games.

Implementing new technologies

• As new rail technologies develop and commercialise, their adoption will help manage electronic obsolescence. This could include retrofitting new signalling technology in older fleets, interoperability systems between different manufacturer fleets or operators and new, more efficient technologies and hardware. As overall rolling stock design lifespan increases from 30 plus years, managing electronic and hardware obsolescence will become a greater challenge for operators and industry. Many electronic components have a much shorter production life making replacement difficult, and technology advancements may render components obsolete, for example 3G wireless communication decommissioning. As existing fleets age, managing electronic obsolescence will become a risk and a key challenge to meet. It is also a growing opportunity for Australian industry across the supply chain.
  • Developments in regulations, commercialisation of new technology and operational practices to improve safety and interoperability also influence technology adoption. The importance of interoperability and safety for rail is a priority of National Cabinet. 

Industry and supply chains

• There is ongoing public and private sector investment to improve resilience, capability and capacity of domestic manufacturers and suppliers throughout the Australian rolling stock manufacturing supply chains. Investment will enable a healthy rail manufacturing ecosystem with a wide range of benefits. This includes to domestic suppliers, sub-contractors, service providers through economies of scale and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities.
  • Current rolling stock procurements in Western Australia and Queensland have seen investments in local manufacturing and assembly capability and facilities. For example, the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program facility at Torbanlea uses a cutting-edge, Australian first Resistance Welding Robot.
• Broader industry and economy changes will impact the rail supply chains. This includes the adoption of additive and other advanced manufacturing, green metals, the adoption of harmonised standards and efforts to decarbonise the rail sector.
  • There are many different pathways to decarbonise rail through electrification of new or existing networks. Hydrogen fuel cell or battery energy storage are alternatives to existing power sources.