Article: Train makers fear let-down

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Train makers fear let-down

Train makers fear let-down
Ian Munro
February 13, 2012

VICTORIAN industry fears that the state government is set to walk away from its promise to buy 40 new trains built mostly by local makers.

This is despite the success of V-Line's new regional fleet of ''VLocity'' trains made in Dandenong where a tram building program is to begin soon.

At his election campaign launch, Premier Ted Baillieu said that over two terms ''we will purchase 40 new, six-carriage trains (which) will be largely manufactured in Victoria.
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''We are going to generate hundreds of jobs in Victoria with huge flow-on benefits for local components suppliers from manufacturing the vehicles locally''.

Manufacturing Minister Richard Dalla-Riva reinforced the message after the election, telling the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance that it would be foolish to build the trains anywhere but in Victoria.

But the first seven trains ordered to fulfil the election promise have limited local content, mostly achieved by assembling and fitting out trains in Ballarat from carriages built overseas.

Compared with the 80 per cent local content in the VLocity fleet, the first Baillieu government trains are 25 per cent locally made.

A spokeswoman for Mr Dalla-Riva told The Age that the local content target would be achieved by maintaining the trains over their life, a claim dismissed by an industry source as ''absolute rubbish''.

''You could fully import a train or a tram and you will achieve 40 per cent local content from the maintenance over 30 years. That's not local manufacturing. They have to exclude maintenance from that calculation or it's nonsense,'' said the industry source.

Manufacturers Alliance executive officer Paul Dowling said he was dismayed by the government's position.

''It's an unbelievable situation. They talk about the percentage of local content (in the Baillieu trains) but the point is it's mainly assembly work, or the seats. It does not have the skill set that builds a train,'' said Mr Dowling.

''I am becoming more and more despondent. As a country, I don't think we are ever going to learn.''

Mr Dalla-Riva's spokeswoman said that the Brumby Labor government's order for new trains included less local content than the coalition government had allowed for.

''The local manufacturing content in the Coalition government's seven additional trains is more than 25 per cent and once maintenance is included it is more than 50 per cent (whole of life),'' she said.

Asked if the government would consider setting a minimum local content target for future orders, she said that the government would consider mandating local content for strategic projects on a case-by-case basis.

Victorian director of the Australian Industry Group, Tim Piper, said there was much uncertainty about the government's plans for manufacturing, but it was too soon to be critical.

''The government is making some changes but there aren't any specific issues we understand they are taking on at the moment,'' said Mr Piper.

''We want to see a game plan that has been developed by the government to support manufacturing industry.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/train-makers-fear-letdown-20120212-1szqq.html

[#Metro]

Sigh.

There is no point making 'local' jobs only when the train order ends to have to go back to square one again.

Pointless...

[SurfRail]

The last fully Australian made public transport vehicle was a tram for one of the municipal operations that survived into the 1950s, can't remember whose.  Anything beyond that has only ever been a question of degree as to how much foreign content is present.

I'd rather that the system saved money by buying the best value for money rollingstock, which generally means an off-the-shelf design modified to suit local conditions.  Melbourne's problem is that they didn't order rollingstock which was particularly any good (the Xtraps have horrid suspension which is magnified by the awful track quality, the body shells are not stainless steel or aluminium so they are already rusty, the air-con is crap).  Sydney's problem was that they went for full stainless steel carriages from a supplier who has never built them before.

I'd have no problem with imported rollingstock, as long as QR were particular about the specifics to suit them for our network.

[somebody]

I'd have no problem with imported rollingstock, as long as QR were particular about the specifics to suit them for our network.

The other possibility is for our standards to conform to internationally accepted ones. 

[#Metro]

The other possibility is for our standards to conform to internationally accepted ones.

What, like world class ones? 

[SurfRail]

I'd have no problem with imported rollingstock, as long as QR were particular about the specifics to suit them for our network.

The other possibility is for our standards to conform to internationally accepted ones. 

Not likely.  Our safety standards are (a) better; and (b) encourage rollingstock with a longer shelf-life which means better value for money.  I'm happy to pay a bit extra for that, but not to the extent of getting significantly fewer trains to satisfy a political imperative for local jobs.  Most of our economy isn't exactly in the doldrums in the moment.

[somebody]

Our safety standards are (a) better;

Isn't that an arguable point; doesn't it presume that it is "better" to have a heavier and more expensive train that is more crash-worthy?

[verbatim9]

Be good to have a thriving Electric Train/Tram and Hybrid Gas Bus Manufacturing industry especially now with peak oil. Government Subsidies for these industries and not so much for the car industry??? Interesting debate!!??