Preston Tram Workshops

The original Preston tram workshops on the 18-acre site along St Georges Road were transformed into state-of-the-art facilities to support the heavy maintenance of existing tram fleets, in addition to incoming, newer generation E-class trams.

The site contained several heritage-listed buildings, two of which were tastefully modernised and converted into new depot facilities for up to 220 tram drivers. This new depot now services routes 11 West Preston to Victoria Harbour, 86 RMIT Bundoora to Waterfront City, and 96 East Brunswick to Acland Street, St Kilda.

Touch Projects was engaged to manage two of the key stages of this landmark project. Our role comprised coordinating the design consultants and all stakeholder liaison as the development’s design evolved, and then overseeing the head contractor’s works once they had been appointed. 

The Touch Projects team participated in key parts of the project’s main tender evaluation stage, as well as driving key procurements for ancillary building items that formed part of the head contractor’s final build.

Throughout the two-year construction period, the functions of tram servicing, heavy maintenance, collision repairs, E-class tram commissioning, and stores continued operating seamlessly across the site.

The project team grew as the project mobilised and the client advised they required two full-time resources to perform the project management functions. This small team was embedded within the Yarra Trams team all the way through to project completion. 

Touch Projects was later also engaged to manage defect rectification, variation negotiation, and settle contract omissions or any remaining contractual disputes.