The first of 100 new Metro buses has rolled off the production line and will soon enter the fleet, signalling more jobs for the North West coast.
This first prototype was built by Elphinstone's Tasmanian employees at Bustech, and work will now begin in earnest at the Elphinstone facility in Wynyard to produce the remaining buses.
This is fantastic news for jobs on the North West, with Elphinstone already putting on 18 new employees to work on the prototype with another six to come once production gets underway.
Twelve other Tasmanian providers are also currently involved in the supply chain, with that number expected to rise in the coming months.
It's a great result and highlights how our commitment to create jobs is providing a sustainable public transport system both now and into the future.
All of the new buses will be environmentally friendly, air-conditioned, and low floor, enabling Metro to meet Disability Discrimination Act obligations for accessible services.
This is the single biggest investment in public transport in Tasmania's history, and it has taken a majority Liberal government to deliver it.