The C2-class trams are five-section Alstom Citadis 302 trams built in La Rochelle, France that operate on the Melbourne tram network. They were built for the tram network in Mulhouse, France, but being surplus to Mulhouse demands, were leased to use in Melbourne in 2008, later being purchased by the Government of Victoria. The trams operate solely on route 96.
In 2008, an arrangement to lease five low-floor, air-conditioned, bi-directional, five section Alstom Citadis 302 trams was brokered with Mulhouse, France, through Yarra Trams' then French parent, Transdev.[4][5][6] The lease agreement was $9 million for four years with shipping costs of $500,000 for each tram,[7] with the first tram arriving in Melbourne in February 2008.[8][9] The first tram was launched on 11 June 2008. They were quickly nicknamed Bumblebees from their yellow colour and the first was officially named Bumblebee 1 before entering service, with the rest following suit up to Bumblebee 5. All entered service on route 96.[5][10][11]
All Citadis trams in Mulhouse are named after municipalities in the Mulhouse Alsace Agglomération, including the five trams that now run in Melbourne:
Tram no. 5103 (Mulhouse 2003): Bollwiller, now Bumblebee 3
Being surplus to the demands of Mulhouse, they were originally intended to be leased only until December 2011.[10] However, it was announced in November 2010 that the State Government was in negotiations to acquire the C2-trams, with all five subsequently purchased in 2012/13.[7][12][13][14]
Prior to entering service in Melbourne, they had minor adjustments made at Preston Workshops, including improvements to the air-conditioning and modifications to the Mulhouse livery.[6][10][15] They have since been repainted into standard Yarra Trams livery and retain their Bumblebee names on a logo behind the driver's cab.
