Queensland government train contract set to deliver 800 jobs
The Queensland government has announced a $4.6 billion contract with transport construction company Downer as the primary manufacturer for The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program. This initiative is a major component of the broader $88.9 billion Queensland Big Build Initiative, designed to fortify Queensland’s economic and social infrastructure to accommodate population and economic growth coming up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
The deal with Downer is poised to yield 65 passenger trains, to be manufactured at Downer’s new facility near Maryborough. The first of these trains is slated for completion by 2026 with the project estimated to be completed as of 2032. This $4.6 billion contract signifies a bolstering of the state’s rail manufacturing sector.
A notable aspect of the initiative involves the utilisation of a steel roll forming factory, a crucial component in crafting train sub-components that were previously imported from overseas. This move not only supports the South East Queensland rail network but also marks a resurgence in the state’s self-sufficiency in rail manufacturing. Hyundai Rotem, Downer’s joint venture partner, has announced a $30 million facility in Maryborough, further contributing to the railway manufacturing taking place in the region.
The project is estimated to support a total of 800 jobs in construction and manufacturing within Queensland in a bid from Premier Palaszczuk to revitalise Queensland’s transport manufacturing industry. Early work has already commenced at the state owned Torbanlea facility, but as production ramps up the Queensland government will be looking to fulfil its labour demands. These figures further contribute to the Queensland Big Build which will support 58,000 jobs over the next 24 months as part of the state’s biggest infrastructure spend on record.
Transport & Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey emphasised that the project extends beyond the need for more trains, stating that it would be “creating opportunities for Torbanlea, Maryborough, and the wider region.”
