RAIL - Back On Track Forum

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99209

Queensland Train Manufacturing Program brings more investment to Maryborough

22nd November 2023

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services
The Honourable Mark Bailey

The Palaszczuk Government is bringing train manufacturing back to Queensland with the $9.5 billion Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP).

Downer's joint venture partner Hyundai Rotem has also announced the establishment of a $30 million facility in Maryborough to make sub-components for the trains.

Major construction has commenced on contractor Downer's new manufacturing facility at Torbanlea, near Maryborough which will build 65 six-car passenger trains for Queenslanders.

The Palaszczuk Government's plan to bring train manufacturing back to Queensland is being boosted by a $30 million investment by Downer partner Hyundai Rotem.

The Hyundai Rotem Corporation will establish a stand-alone local presence on the Fraser Coast with the purchase of an industrial site and plans to establish a factory to produce sub-components for train car bodies.

Roll forming involves the continuous bending of a long strip of sheet metal (typically coiled steel) to make sub-components for train car bodies.

This kind of component has been made overseas for decades but will now be made locally as part of the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to bringing train manufacturing back to Maryborough, creating an additional 20 jobs.

The Hyundai Rotem facility is in addition to the QTMP site being built at Torbanlea and Downer's facility at Maryborough.

Major works are underway at the Torbanlea facility to transform from a former pineapple farm into Australia's newest state-of-the-art train manufacturing facility, which will manufacture 65 six-car passenger trains to run on the SEQ train network.

The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program will support 800 construction and manufacturing jobs.

Downer was awarded the Design Build Maintain Contract (DBM) for the QTMP earlier this year and has partnered with the Hyundai Rotem Corporation (HRC) for the manufacturing of the 65 new trains.

Once the first QTMP train has been built in 2026, it will begin testing before entering passenger services in 2027. All 65 trains are expected to be in service in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games while helping to run additional services that will be delivered by the Cross River Rail and Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail projects.

A co-design process is ongoing with the disability sector to inform the design of the new QTMP trains.

This will shape the design of the 65 new passenger trains to ensure they are compliant, functional, and accessible for all passengers.

Early works to upgrade local intersections within Torbanlea started in August 2022 ahead of the start of construction on the train manufacturing facility.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey:

"We welcome Hyundai Rotem's additional investment in this steel roll forming facility.

"Our commitment to bring train manufacturing to Queensland is attracting additional investment.

"This is an exciting time for QTMP, which will create hundreds of long-term Queensland jobs and reinvigorate train manufacturing in Queensland.

"This project will train a new generation of highly-skilled Queensland workers in train manufacturing, which will have long-term benefits to our economy, transport infrastructure and manufacturing industry.

"It is truly historic to be here today at the start of what will be a rail manufacturing revolution for Maryborough, which will remain the birthplace of Queensland trains for years to come."

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads and Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders:

"This is a landmark day for Maryborough and the broader Fraser Coast region.

"It's truly special to be here today at the start of major construction on a project I fought hard to help deliver.

"In the coming months, we will start to see a brand-new manufacturing facility rise from the ground up.

"The first trains will complete manufacturing and commence testing in late 2026, with all 65 trains expected to be in service by 2032.

"These 65 new trains will support South East Queensland's population boom, as well as Cross River Rail and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Quotes attributable to Downer Head of Rail and Transit Systems Steve Kakavas:

"The construction works now underway will involve installing site offices, undertaking geotechnical testing, connecting services including water and electricity connections, clearing vegetation and undertaking bulk earthworks."

Quotes attributable to Hyundai Rotem CEO Yong-Bae Lee:

"Hyundai Rotem's Maryborough factory will be operational in 2025 and will provide the roll forming to be used for rail car bodies at the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility.

"Queensland does not currently have roll forming capability, and such components have historically been made overseas. We believe this investment strengthens Queensland's rail manufacturing capabilities while creating new jobs in the region."

Fast facts (QTMP Torbanlea facility):

The footprint of the train manufacturing facility is approximately 30,000m2, almost three times the size of Suncorp Stadium.

Approximately 2,400 tonnes of structural steel will be used in the construction of the manufacturing facility.

More than 20,000 cubic metres of concrete will be used to construct slabs for the manufacturing facility.

Around 2.3km of new road will be constructed from the facility gatehouse to the manufacturing facility.

ENDS

"All 65 trains are expected to be in service in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games while helping to run additional services that will be delivered by the Cross River Rail and Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail projects."

I note the distinct absence of any mention of the Sunshine Coast line, either #B2N or #DSCL.

On #B2N, #Nicklin hasn't delivered one heavy rail sleeper after 5 and 1/2 years.

Quotes attributable to Rob Skelton: 

https://x.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1727201667874185281?s=20

https://x.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1728128657565315527?s=20

https://x.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1727939683156705424?s=20

Media discover parts of trains being built overseas, and govt denies it's the case.

Cue, the announcement of a Korean company who will roll form steel in a new factory in Queensland.

Everyone knows that patents are very expensive as well as attracting expertise. Of course they would need an international delivery partner. It's a shame they went around the bush. They could have just contracted with the Korean company directly and saved heaps of money while getting some components made here in Australia.

I bet if LNP get in, there will be an inquiry into this.

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/1351-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1351
Asked on 26 October 2023

MR J KRAUSE ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister advise the date when all 65 trains being manufactured in Maryborough will be
delivered to Queensland Rail?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Scenic Rim for the question.

The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is bringing train manufacturing jobs back to
Queensland. The program includes building 65 new six-car passenger trains at a purpose-built
manufacturing facility at Torbanlea, in the Maryborough region.

The first train is anticipated to be manufactured and begin testing by late 2026, with trains being
progressively introduced into service, supporting a service uplift in response to growth by 2032.

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/1318-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1318
Asked on 25 October 2023

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the Minister's media release dated 30 June 2023 which states that 'Downer
signs $4.6bn contract to deliver Palaszczuk Government's landmark Queensland Train
Manufacturing Program' and reports in the Korea Economic Daily that same day that 'Hyundai
Rotam will share the majority stake in the venture with Downer, holding 85.6 percent and
14.4 percent respectively'—
Will the Minister advise (a) if the contract has been signed with Downer, or if it has been signed
with a joint venture with one partner being Downer, (b) if a joint venture, the ownership of each
partner (in percentage) and (c) if the contract has been signed with a joint venture, of which
Downer holds only a minor stake, the reason why the majority partner in the joint venture was not
disclosed in the Minister's media release?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

In June 2023, the State of Queensland executed a $4.6 billion Design Build Maintain (DBM)
contract with Downer to deliver the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program. The DBM contract
is between the Queensland Government and Downer. Downer has partnered with subcontractors who are specialists in their field for various parts of the DBM contract. The DBM
contract was signed between the State of Queensland and Downer only. Details of Downer and
its joint venture partner and sub-contractors are a matter for Downer and its joint venture partners
and sub-contractors.

The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is bringing train manufacturing back to
Queensland, supporting 800 construction and manufacturing jobs in the Fraser Coast region
alone.

The first trains are expected to be in operation in 2026 with the full complement of 65 trains
expected to be in service for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

https://x.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1729026752620761226?s=20

Quote from: verbatim9 on November 25, 2023, 09:58:26 AMI bet if LNP get in, there will be an inquiry into this.

Of course there will. We all know how much LNP hates local manufacturing.

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_11_28_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice

Train Manufacturing Program

Mr McCALLUM: My question is of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for
Digital Services. Will the minister please update the House on the Palaszczuk government's success
in bringing train manufacturing back to Queensland, and is the minister aware of any alternatives?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the member for his question and for his support for Queensland-made
trains—made here for Queenslanders. I was pleased to be in Maryborough with the member for
Maryborough, the Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, for the start of heavy construction work
on our Queensland-made train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea, near Maryborough. Only under this
government would that have happened. I want to thank the member for Maryborough, who has turned
the town of Maryborough around after it was facing a grim future after those opposite sent train
manufacturing overseas. We all know how that ended up—disability noncompliant trains that we are
still fixing to this day. I believe we have fixed about 56 of them and we are making our way to 75.
It was a great day in Maryborough. It was also a great day because of a new announcement that
was made by Hyundai Rotem, the partners of Downer, who announced a new contract—a $30 million
contract—for a steel-forming factory in Maryborough to supply the form parts of the carriages made
locally. This is something that is usually done overseas. This will be done in Maryborough—another 20
manufacturing jobs on top of all the jobs we have coming in terms of making trains in Queensland for
Queenslanders under this government.

You know that this would only happen under this government, Mr Speaker. Why do I know that?
We saw recently the document released by the Leader of the Opposition: 'right-wing priorities for
Queensland'. In the 'right-wing priorities for Queensland', was the word 'manufacturing' mentioned?
No. There was not a word on manufacturing in his big vision statement. There was absolutely nothing
in it. The Leader of the Opposition had another opportunity at the Media Club to outline his vision at
length, to show us some depth, to show us some policy. What did we get? We got a highly defensive
effort—no new policies other than to say, 'I'm not like Newman. I'm a new man!' How can you be a new
man when you were with Newman in the Newman cabinet?

The Leader of the Opposition is trying to pretend that he is something he is not. He even used
the same terminology as Newman: 'no forced redundancies; you're all safe'. Do you remember that? It
is hard to say you are a new man when you say this about Campbell Newman—
In that moment, that one second in time, I realised I was dealing with someone special. To me, that was a defining moment.
...
I'll remember that moment until the day I die.

Mr SPEAKER: The member's time has expired.

Mr BAILEY: He is not a new man: he is just a little Newman.

Mr SPEAKER: Minister, the period for responding to the question has expired. I ask you to
resume your seat.

https://x.com/TMRQld/status/1729621223556989082?s=20

Have your say on the Ormeau rail facility design: December 2023

The feedback period opens Monday 4 December 2023 and will close Saturday 2 March 2024.

https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/queensland-train-manufacturing-program

Have your say on the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility design: December 2023

The feedback period opens Monday 4 December 2023 and will close Saturday 2 March 2024.

https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/queensland-train-manufacturing-program

I never realised how badly/stupidly Ormeau Station is located.  Makes absolutely no sense.  Surrounded by rural residential and rural. Should be between Eggersdorf Rd and Goldmine Rd.

It should have been separate Pimpama and Ormeau (that location) stations to begin with.  If anything I would love to see the current Ormeau station close and move up the road but that is probably not feasible politically.

I find it ironic that the maintainers of trains can't catch a train to work !! Most won't but I do

Quote from: Jonno on December 04, 2023, 17:12:52 PMI find it ironic that the maintainers of trains can't catch a train to work !! Most won't but I do

Not really. Gone are the workers trains in favour of longer work hours and more time off. Also depends where you live anyway. Only helpful if you live on a line that goes past it. Rosters aren't your normal 9-5 day job especially when OT is involved - which it normally is. The MTCE facilities are 24/7 operations with your mandatory minimum time between shifts. 

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/1406-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1406
Asked on 14 November 2023

MR M CRANDON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister provide an outline of the Ormeau Feeder Substation project on page 30 of
QTRIP?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Coomera for the question.

A feeder substation is required to provide sufficient overhead power supply and reliability for an
Ormeau maintenance facility and adjacent stabling yard being delivered by the Queensland Train
Manufacturing Project (QTMP). The feeder station will be in the Queensland Rail corridor
adjacent to the QTMP Ormeau facility.

The feeder station will also support the planned uplift in train services on the Gold Coast line
following the opening of Cross River Rail and Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail. It contains
specialised power conversion and distribution equipment and measures 80 metres by 70 metres.

https://x.com/TMRQld/status/1753307296375955759?s=20

Torbanlea and Howard and a bit like twin towns, about 4km apart. Torbanlea badly needs a bit of a streetscape facelift - may require cooperation between council and state to lift the civic facilities ... say more highway parking near the pub, different sort of accommodation apart from old Queenslanders and farm houses etc. Think this area floods, do maybe better drainage.

Government Statement: Beenleigh company to deliver steel for Queensland Train Manufacturing Program

7th February 2024

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99659

. Beenleigh Steel Fabrications has been awarded the contract to deliver structural steel for the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP).

. The $40 million contract will create six new jobs and support 14 apprentices and trainees.

. Construction of the train manufacturing facility buildings are scheduled to start mid-2024, with planned completion in early 2025.

> https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99659

Should be a good earner for BSF, especially after coming after their supplying steel to Queen's Wharf.

Government Statement: Queensland Train Manufacturing on show in new Maryborough Information Centre

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100089

A new Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) project information centre in Maryborough opening soon.

Centre will preview train and new manufacturing facility designs and showcase the Fraser Coast's rail history.

QTMP will build 65 six-car passenger trains at a purpose-built manufacturing facility at Torbanlea in the Fraser Coast region. As part of the program, a new rail facility will also be constructed at Ormeau, on the Gold Coast.

Downer was awarded the contract for QTMP in June 2023. They have sub-contracted John Holland to build the train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea.

QTMP will support South East Queensland's population and economic growth, as well as Cross River Rail and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The first QTMP train is anticipated to be manufactured and begin testing by late 2026, with all trains expected to be in service by 2032.

The new, modern train fleet will provide passengers with more efficient, reliable, and accessible travel across South East Queensland.

QTMP website > https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/programs/queensland-train-manufacturing-program


More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100089

An 'opening soon' announcement..
That's gotta be a distraction for something.

Torbanlea train manufacturing facility concept design newsletter for more information about the facility and how the project will manage operational impacts.

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/projects/t/torbanlea-manufacturing-facility/torbanlea-train-manufacturing-facility-design-update-dec23.pdf

Ormeau rail facility concept design newsletter for more information about the facility and how the project will manage impacts on the community.

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/projects/o/ormeau-rail-facility/ormeau-design-engagement-brochure-dec23.pdf

We have the same track gauge and electrification system as Perth and Auckland, right? And I know we used to make trains for Perth here in Queensland. Could there be some benefit to working with Transperth and Auckland Transport to acquire rolling stock together in a joint order, or perhaps to each manufacture the same model in different locations, so there can be interchangeability and the ability to cover manufacturing delays in any one particular location? Just thinking about economies of scale to lower costs or improve reliability.

That's how it used to be.  Walker's in Maryborough manufactured for Perth and Brisbane at one stage, and QR SX sets heavily rebuilt have run in Perth and NZ.

Quote from: Cygnus on April 29, 2024, 11:49:36 AMWe have the same track gauge and electrification system as Perth and Auckland, right? And I know we used to make trains for Perth here in Queensland. Could there be some benefit to working with Transperth and Auckland Transport to acquire rolling stock together in a joint order, or perhaps to each manufacture the same model in different locations, so there can be interchangeability and the ability to cover manufacturing delays in any one particular location? Just thinking about economies of scale to lower costs or improve reliability.

Nope. Not economically possible.

Every system has different requirements (especially Auckland with its low level platforms).

I expect there may need to be a decent sized Auckland order in the next few years so they can bulk up to 6 car trains but I can't see why they would want to pay a premium to have any Australian manufacturing in the chain.

Imagine getting 3 sets of rail unions to agree to the cab layout 💀💀💀

Unions signing off are quite easy. The problem with NGR were the layouts were based on a standard design that was modified to keep costs down which was also based on a DOO layout/running with minimal consulting with crews. Chair and other issues were easily resolved but due to the lack of consultation and contract wording on who was to pay for the rectification works this is what caused the "infighting" with a lot of half assed solutions as the manufacturers didn't want to pay for it nor did the queensland government. Even issues raised prior to manufacturing of some units weren't addressed at the time as they were building to what was ordered. Only once they arrived here were most works undertaken.

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/398-2024.pdf

QUESTION ON NOTICE
No. 398
asked on 17 April 2024

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED THE MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
MANUFACTURING AND MINISTER FOR WATER (HON G BUTCHER)—

QUESTION:

Will the Minister (a) confirm that Turner & Townsend has been appointed by the
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads to deliver project management
advisory and cost commercial management services for the Queensland Train
Manufacturing Program and (b) advise (i) the date of engagement and (ii) the contract
cost?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

I am advised that the Department of Transport and Main Roads (the Department) has
appointed Turner & Townsend to provide project management office and cost advisory
services to the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP).

This appointment was a result of a highly competitive open market tender process
undertaken by the Department, with a request for quote issued via QTenders to more
than 100 qualified companies. There were more than 20 submissions.

Turner & Townsend commenced services with QTMP on 13 November 2023. The
value of this contract is $4,341,837 (excluding GST), and in line with the Queensland
Procurement Policy, which is listed publicly.

The procurement process undertaken by the Department was thorough and applied
the highest levels of probity. If the Member would like a briefing on the QTMP
procurement process, I invite him to contact my office.

Government Statement

3rd June 2024

Gold Coast business helping Ormeau rail facility go 'off-grid'

> https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100474