Melbourne will take centre stage in 2027 as host of the World Tram Driver Championship, the first time the global competition has been held outside Europe.
The announcement comes as two Australian drivers and their coach – dubbed the Tramaroos – compete this weekend in Vienna against 24 countries in events testing precision stopping, speed control and driving skill. Australia first entered the competition in 2022, breaking ground as the first non-European nation to join the field in Leipzig, Germany.
Home to the largest tram network in the world, Melbourne runs more than 250 kilometres of double track with over 5,000 daily services carrying close to 200 million passengers each year. Organisers say the city’s scale and tram culture make it a natural fit for the 2027 championship.
“Melbourne is home to the world’s biggest tram network and hosting the World Tram Driver Championship will showcase the important role trams play in our city,” said Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams.
Yarra Trams CEO Vincent Destot said the competition would celebrate not only technical skill but the culture and community that keep Melbourne’s trams moving.
