Queensland commits to train building plan to get manufacturing back on track

The plan, which would see Maryborough become an engine for local jobs creation over the next decade, includes:

• $600m for 20 new Queensland trains and the infrastructure needed to build them in Maryborough, supporting 690 new jobs.
• $1m for a business case to replace carriages for the Westlander, Inlander and Spirit of the Outback long-distance services.
• A continued $300m, 10-year pipeline of manufacturing work in Maryborough to refurbish and maintain the existing QR fleet being delivered by Downer.
• Continuing $85m investment for Maryborough workers to fix overseas-bought trains.

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed the plan. ARA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said the commitment to invest $600m to build the new trains formed part of a wider $1bn pipeline to give the sector greater certainty and scale.

“This commitment would transform the face of Queensland manufacturing and shows once and for all that trains can and should be built here in Australia,” Wilkie said. “This investment in rail manufacturing would ensure the trains operating on the state’s newest passenger rail line are absolutely fit for purpose and made for Australian conditions by the people that know them best. We are pleased this commitment has recognised Australia’s extensive expertise in the field and the need to invest to this scale in the local industry.”

Wilkie said a decision to invest in local capability would deliver positive outcomes over the new fleet’s lifecycle and would drive new jobs, skills development and other opportunities for people in the state.

“Australia’s rollingstock manufacturing and repair industry already employs more than 4000 people across the country, and today’s announcement is welcome recognition of the industry’s contribution,” said Wilkie. “Projects like this provide the scale and certainty companies need to further invest in people, skills and innovation. Today’s commitment has the potential to deliver much wider benefits to the Maryborough region and the Queensland community.”

The new trains would be the first in nearly a decade to be built from the ground up in Queensland. Rollingstock design, manufacturing and assembly capability exists across Australia, including at Downer’s facility in Maryborough.

The ARA supports investment in Australian rail manufacturing and recently released a new tendering framework calling for a national approach to rail procurement to help further grow the market opportunities in the country.