Trackless Trams Business Case

Trackless Tram Business Case

With Australian Government funding of $2 million through the Urban Congestion Fund for a business case, the City is working with experts to assess a range of technology to support the implementation of a Trackless Tram system from Glendalough Train Station to Scarborough Beach.

This major urban regeneration project is part of the City’s broader vision to revitalise the Stirling City Centre to become Perth’s second CBD and transform it into a vibrant, urban area with increased jobs and housing.

Under the City’s vision, Trackless Trams would extend 7km from Glendalough Station to Scarborough Beach to offer contemporary, sustainable transport that’s less disruptive and more cost effective to build while retaining the benefits of light rail.

The research will be undertaken independently by respected global transport and engineering consultants over two separate packages of work.

Package 1 will determine and assess the range of technology available to support Trackless Trams, along with associated infrastructure and approvals requirements.

The City has appointed ARUP to deliver Package 1 to conduct a pre-feasibility study into medium capacity transit systems along the Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor including new technologies such as trackless trams. The scope includes assessment criteria such as:

• modal integration
• impact and disruption on infrastructure, community, and business
• ease of implementation
• compliance
• impact on local traffic and more.

SMEC has been appointed to deliver Package 2 which includes a more comprehensive body of work, with the development of a preliminary business case to de-risk the project and address:

• project definition and purpose
• land use and planning
• the preferred system
• engineering and sustainability
• delivery methodology, risk and more.

The Trackless Tram Business Case is expected to be completed by November 2023.

Trackless Tram Trial

In March 2022, the City of Stirling received permission from the Federal Government to utilise $135,000 of the business case funding to conduct a Trackless Tram trial and since this time, the City has been working with Curtin University, CRRC, Shanghai Electric and Infrastructure Technology Solutions (ITSG) to import a Trackless Tram for a trial study in 2023.

The Trackless Tram will be the first of its kind in Australia and the testing program that will occur during the Trial in November 2023 will aim to understand: 

• Charging capacity/battery performance
• Sensor reliability
• Obstacle detection
• Communications
• Manoeuvrability/turning circles
• User experience. 

The results will be used to assist the City’s Business Case and advocacy for the implementation of the Trackless Tram.

A Net Zero Transit Symposium will be held to coincide with the Trial, joining national and international experts to discuss the latest in mid-tier net zero transit options and provide the opportunity for attendees to see the Trackless Tram in action.