It will include extra handholds and grab rails, reducing the risk of passenger falls, and much wider and less glary driver-side windows to give the driver a better view of road traffic. An E-Class tram on Flinders Street. Internal cameras will be fitted to the trams so drivers can more easily see passengers moving between the tram and platforms. The changes follow a fivefold increase in the number of injuries among passengers getting on and off trams, a 50 per cent rise in falls on trams and a doubling in serious injuries in two years. The rise in injuries has followed a shift towards mostly standing-room tram interiors, with fewer seats available on all but the oldest trams.

Bombardier has already made 50 E-Class trams, the last of which is scheduled to enter service in May. These will be retrofitted with many of the new safety features, the company said. Bombardier's managing director, Andrew Dudgeon, said the design changes followed discussions with passengers, and were developed with virtual reality technology at Swinburne University. "From design all the way through to the build, our team in Dandenong manages the entire process and could not be more proud of these vehicles," Mr Dudgeon said. "We look forward to working with the Victorian government and Public Transport Victoria to continue delivering more of the best trams for Melbourne." The new-look tram is among the nominees for the 2017 Australian Good Design Awards. According to its awards entry: "The design has enhanced the overall vehicle quality by utilising the latest in virtual reality technology from Swinburne University to optimise driver sight-lines and enhance driver and passenger safety."

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said E-Class trams were not perfect but had been "a pretty good addition" to Melbourne's tram fleet. "They do tend to reflect the way that we've been designing and fitting out our trams in recent years to have fewer seats and more standing room, on the basis that that is the cheapest way to accommodate more people on the system," he said. Dr Morton said it was no surprise an increase in slips and falls had followed the reduction of seating. Annual tram patronage soared above 200 million trips in 2015-16. Loading

E-Class trams run on routes 96, 11 and 86, three of the most heavily used in Melbourne. The 20 E2-Class trams are expected to cost $274 million.