Yarra Trams Adds 300 Workers for Stop Cleaning

Yarra Trams hires 300 workers to clean high-touch surfaces at 300 stops daily

Yarra Trams Adds 300 Workers for Stop Cleaning

Melbourne tram riders will see more frequent cleaning at nearly 300 stops across the network as Yarra Trams deploys over 300 newly hired workers to sanitize high-touch surfaces. The enhanced cleaning program, funded through the $500 million Working for Victoria initiative, adds daytime cleaning crews who'll work seven days a week between 7am and 6pm. Transit officials said the expansion supplements existing overnight deep-cleaning protocols that've been standard practice for years.

Context & Background

The Working for Victoria fund was created to provide employment opportunities while addressing public health needs across the state's transit systems. Melbourne's tram network already maintains rigorous cleaning standards, with every tram undergoing a deep clean before entering service that includes wiping handrails, grab straps, and high-touch areas. The new daytime crews will provide additional sanitization on top of these existing overnight protocols, transit officials said. The initiative represents one of the largest expansions of transit cleaning staff in Melbourne's history.

Key Details

Nearly 300 tram stops will receive special attention under the program, with high-patronage locations getting multiple cleanings throughout the day. Key stops including Federation Square and Melbourne University will be prioritized for the most frequent sanitization visits. Cleaning crews will travel along busy corridors like St Kilda Road, hopping on and off at stops to wipe down shelters, seating, and other surfaces riders touch. The workers focus on carriages, depots, and street-level stop infrastructure during the 11-hour daily cleaning window.

Timeline & Implementation

The 300-plus jobseekers have already been hired and deployed across the tram network, transit officials said. The seven-day-a-week cleaning schedule runs continuously from 7am to 6pm, covering peak commute times and midday service hours. Officials didn't specify how long the enhanced cleaning program will continue or whether it'll become a permanent feature of network operations.

Rider Impact & Moovit

Riders using high-traffic stops like Federation Square and Melbourne University should notice more frequent cleaning throughout the day, particularly during morning and afternoon peak periods. The additional sanitization aims to reduce surface contamination at locations where thousands of passengers pass through daily. Moovit provides real-time tram arrival information and service updates for Melbourne's entire tram network, helping riders plan trips and track vehicles across all routes.