New Generation Rollingstock

[ozbob]

When is the first of the modified NGR train sets going to be released into service, it is well past the time that it would reasonably be taken to build a new train much less carry out a modification so where are the NGR's to comply with the disability access requirements.

The latest advice that I can glean from behind the scenes is that the first modified NGR might be ready by September 2020.

The official line is that the first modified NGR will be in service sometime in 2020.

This begs the question that will the modification of the further 74 NGRs take (74 x 10 months) ~ 62 years?
Of course this is an exaggeration but this first train modification does seem to be taking a long time.

Some sources suggest issues with intellectual property matters have contributed to slow progress, but it is believed that these issues have been resolved.  Always going to be  a problem with one manufacturer is working on another manufacturers product.

This project has been a fuking mess from day one. No one has really been held to account, they are all still there bumbling along ...

Official line from https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/N/New-Generation-Rollingstock/Accessibility

Accessibility upgrade timeline
29 October 2019—First NGR arrives in Maryborough to begin installation of accessibility upgrades.
2020—First train with accessibility upgrades back in passenger service.
2024—All 75 NGR trains modified with accessibility upgrades and back in passenger service.

[JimmyP]

Prototypes/proof of concept modifications always take a lot longer than when the program is rolled out to the full fleet. Nothing unusual in this IMO.

[Andrew]

701 was in service on June 11. I saw it doing a service to Doomben.

Schrödinger's Bus: Early, on-time and late, simultaneously, until you see it...

[ozbob]

701 was in service on June 11. I saw it doing a service to Doomben.

Schrödinger's Bus: Early, on-time and late, simultaneously, until you see it...

701 has not been modified.

The first unit being modified is 735.

[Andrew]

701 was in service on June 11. I saw it doing a service to Doomben.

Schrödinger's Bus: Early, on-time and late, simultaneously, until you see it...

701 has not been modified.

Oh ok. I thought it was given how long it spent up in Maryborough. Do you know which set is the first one?

Schrödinger's Bus: Early, on-time and late, simultaneously, until you see it...

[ozbob]

735 is the pilot for the modifications.

It's 735 Robert. It's first one up there & workers stripping it right back before rectifying

— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) November 5, 2019

[red dragin]

There was also upgrades to the track work into the workshops at Maryborough required, which have only recently been completed from what I can see on the project page.

[ozbob]

^

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/N/New-Generation-Rollingstock/Accessibility-upgrade-works-at-Maryborough

Infrastructure improvements

The Queensland Government funded $10 million infrastructure improvements to the Downer rail plant in Maryborough to enable multiple NGR trains to undergo simultaneous upgrades at the site.

These infrastructure improvement works include:

. upgrades to overhead power lines to support 6-car static testing

. installation of a new section of track to support weighing, levelling and water egress testing

. installation of a new run-around road and an additional spur to ease shunting restrictions and improve stabling capacity

. additional cranes

. general infrastructure upgrades to support the rectification work.

[ozbob]

Latest is that the future modifications of NGRs will be done in batches, some sources suggest up to 8 at a time.

I am uncertain as too how many NGRs could be handled at once at Maryborough.  Anyone know?  My guess is 3 or maybe 4.

If they are done in batches of 8, this would have an impact on fleet availability I expect.

[JimmyP]

I thought that was always the plan? Pretty sure I remember seeing someone from the Gov saying there would be up to 8 getting done at once when it's in full swing.

[ozbob]

I thought that was always the plan? Pretty sure I remember seeing someone from the Gov saying there would be up to 8 getting done at once when it's in full swing.

Really, any dates times and references please?  This is the first time I have heard about ' 8 ' ....

[verbatim9]

Seems very ambitious to do 8 at a time for such a small facility in a reasonably quick timeframe.

[ozbob]

Once ICE/EMU decommissioned train fleet 135 6 car sets.  75 NGRs is ~ 56% of the train fleet.

[BrizCommuter]

I can see the EMUs being around for a bit longer. The Ferny Grove Line is like a heritage railway at the moment.

[ozbob]

Scrapping of the EMUs stopped for a while but mufreight reports that scrapped has recommenced the past few weeks.

[JimmyP]

I thought that was always the plan? Pretty sure I remember seeing someone from the Gov saying there would be up to 8 getting done at once when it's in full swing.

Really, any dates times and references please?  This is the first time I have heard about ' 8 ' ....

I've managed to find this document from Downer that states 6 trains with one delivered every 8 days (inset piece on pg8). Haven't managed to find anything else yet, but i'm sure I remember reading that up to 8 trains at a time would be done. I'll keep searching!

Edit: Couldn't add the full document, so attached a screenshot. It's a 'Downer in Queensland' document.

[ozbob]

Thanks JimmyP.  Great to know.   

[BrizCommuter]

Is there currently any time frame for EMU retirement? Is there any time frame for follow up NGR orders?

[ozbob]

Fraser Coast Chronicle --> First of troubled train fleet hits milestone at Downer

6th Mar 2020

THE first toilet has been fitted on to the NGR train currently stationed at Maryborough's Downer factory, acting as the blueprint of how the rest of the fleet will be repaired.

It marks a milestone since the State Government announced in 2017 the troubled Mumbai-built trains would be repaired at the Walker St depot.

$334 million is being spent on fixing the troubled fleet.

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders said it was a massive job to get the first train fitted, as it would act as a blueprint to fix the remaining trains that will arrive at the factory.

"It's always going to be difficult with the first one because the plans had to be drawn," Mr Saunders said.

"That's the test one to make sure the work is being done correctly."

During the last State Election Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said $150 million would be spent on fixing the trains.

The first of 75 trains rolled into Maryborough in October last year.

Fixing them became a flashpoint for the 2017 State Election after a troubled history resulted in the carriages arriving in Queensland with a number of problems.

The trains were found to be non-compliant with disability access laws and had problems with braking and airconditioningtioning, among other issues. Mr Saunders said the retrofitting project was still on track and the trains were expected to hit the rails by 2022.

Late last year, the Premier committed another $300 million to factory for a pipeline of rail projects, including overhauls to electric and diesel trains, in the heart of Maryborough.

[ozbob]

Well there you go!

" At the height of the project eight trains will be upgraded at once. Modification of the fleet is scheduled to commence in late 2019 and continue through to 2024. "

https://www.downergroup.com/rail  under 'Queensland New Generation Rollingstock'

[ozbob]

QUESTION ON NOTICE

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1677-2019.pdf

ASKED

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Answer Due: Thursday, 21 November 2019

1677 MR M CRANDON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
With reference to the Queensland Rail Citytrain fleet—

Will the Minister provide an update on (a) the progress of the NGR train rectifications being undertaken by
Downer EDI, (b) the timetable for the overhaul of the ten IMU three-carriage trains and the twelve three
carriage SMU 200 series trains and (c) the number of further new trains required to meet the Cross River
Rail schedule for services?

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1677-2019.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1677
Asked on Tuesday 22 October 2019

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

QUESTION:
With reference to the Queensland Rail Citytrain fleet—

Will the Minister provide an update on (a) the progress of the NGR train rectifications being
undertaken by Downer EDI, (b) the timetable for the overhaul of the ten IMU three-carriage trains
and the twelve three carriage SMU 200 series trains and (c) the number of further new trains
required to meet the Cross River Rail schedule for services?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Coomera for the question.

It is important that the Member note that, as the New Generation Rollingstock Train Commission of
Inquiry laid out in detail, the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains were ordered by the
Newman Government and '[T] the Commission was advised that the critical decision to reduce the
number of toilets on the NGR train, as well as the decision to remove the intermediate guard cab,
was driven by the former Director-General of TMR, Mr Michael Caltabiano' (page 37).

The Palaszczuk Government is fixing the mess created by the former LNP Government, its handpicked Director-General, and its decision to build these trains from overseas and not in Queensland.

a) The delivery of the $335.7 million NGR accessibility upgrades is proceeding on-schedule. The
first NGR train to undergo the upgrades arrived at the Downer rail plant in Maryborough on
29 October 2019. The first train will be back in passenger services in 2020, with all 75 NGR
trains upgraded and back in service by 2024, prior to the opening of the Cross River Rail
infrastructure.

The NGR accessibility upgrades will deliver the most accessible fleet Queensland has ever
seen, and will include:

• the addition of a second accessible toilet module on every NGR train
• a 10 per cent increase in circulation space inside the toilet modules
• improved sink design
• more grab/handrails
• an increase in priority seats, from 24 to 88 per train.

The design of the upgrades came after intensive consultation with a Project Working Group
from the disability sector, using an innovative co-design process.
The upgrades will also provide an important jobs boost for Maryborough. The accessibility
upgrades will sustain existing jobs at the Downer plant in Maryborough, as well as creating
new positions – with up to 100 people working on the upgrades at their peak.

b) The contract to overhaul Queensland Rail's IMU100 and SMU200 fleet was awarded to
Downer in November 2018. The project is progressing as planned and is currently in the
design phase, with designs due to be completed in early-2020.

Following this, and depending on the resultant schedule, completion of works is currently
anticipated to be:
• late-2020: first two SMU200 trains (prototypes)
• late-2020: first two IMU100 trains (prototypes)
• late-2022: remaining 10 SMU200 and eight IMU100 trains.

Queensland Rail is working closely with the NGR team to accommodate the required NGR
rectification works and carefully coordinates its own rollingstock overhauls to ensure
continued availability of suitable rollingstock to deliver timetabled services.

c) Cross River Rail is a once-in-a-generation project that will transform South East Queensland's
rail network. By unlocking the bottleneck at the core of the network, it will create a second
inner-city river crossing and allow more trains to run more often.

To deliver extra timetabled services in the future, the existing passenger rollingstock fleet will
need to expand. The number of trains required will be determined by a range of factors which
include passenger demand, service frequency and the underlying rail infrastructure.
There are long lead times associated with fleet procurement, so early consideration of fleet
procurement has begun. As part of this process, the Queensland Government will consider
options for local supply of the new trains.

While the Queensland Government recently completed a process to procure 75 new six-car
passenger trains for South East Queensland (that is, NGR), many of these will replace the
old electric multiple units as they are retired.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will continue to develop the passenger
rollingstock fleet consideration throughout 2019 and 2020. These considerations will be a
matter for government consideration.

[BrizCommuter]

...so just being considered then. Oh dear!

[ozbob]

Is there currently any time frame for EMU retirement? Is there any time frame for follow up NGR orders?

My understanding is some EMUs will remain in service till 2022.  Not sure how many.  This could be extended depending on the NGR modification program results.

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Queensland transport boss within rules when he accepted $1,260 Ed Sheeran tickets, department says

22 Jun 2019

The head of Queensland's transport department accepted $1,260 corporate box tickets to see Ed Sheeran from a company that vied for millions in government contracts.

Downer EDI, a major infrastructure and integrated services company, gave the Ed Sheeran tickets to the director general of Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMS), Neil Scales, in March last year.

There is no suggestion that the gifts influenced the department's procurement decisions in any way, or that they actually affected Scales's impartiality. TMS said in a statement that the director general was not the person who signed the Downer contracts.

"Contract decisions, including those listed, are made by authorised TMR officers," the department said.

The company is frequently contracted for work by the Queensland government. Later in 2018, Downer was awarded more than $10m in road resurfacing contracts from TMS, including in three limited tenders, and tens of millions of dollars worth of train upgrade contracts with Queensland Rail, a separate agency.

It was also later awarded the $335.7m contract to fix the hugely controversial faults in Queensland's new train fleet, known as the new generation rollingstock (NGR), though the company had earlier been earmarked for the work in the state election campaign 2017.

The tickets for an Ed Sheeran concert in Brisbane in March were declared on the department's gift register, as required. The justification for accepting the tickets was listed as "to maintain relationship with external stakeholder and discuss the Inland Rail and NGR".

"Strong controls and checks are built into these processes to ensure procurement decisions are accountable, transparent and fair."

Strict rules oversee public servants' acceptance of gifts across federal and state governments. Public servants are generally told not to accept gifts and benefits that could affect, or could be seen to affect, their impartiality.

In Queensland, procurement guidelines warn "public officials involved in any aspect of a procurement process are strongly advised not to accept gifts or benefits, as they can or may be seen to be, a means of influence". A 2010 directive from Queensland's public service commission states that public servants must be seen to act with integrity and impartiality, making the acceptance of some gifts inappropriate.

"Consequently, it is not appropriate for public service employees to be offered, to accept or to give gifts and benefits that affect, may be likely to affect or could reasonably be perceived to affect, the independent and impartial performance of their official duties."

TMR said the acceptance of the tickets complied with the rules, and that its gifts management process met the requirements of the 2009 public service commission directive.

"TMR maintains robust processes in line with the Queensland procurement policy," the department said. "In relation to the Downer EDI gift, the declaration by the director general has satisfied the requirements of both the PSC directive and the TMR gifts and benefits policy."

Downer EDI has also donated significant amounts to Queensland Labor. Last week, it made a donation of $17,080 to the state branch of the party, according to the donation disclosure system. In 2018, it donated $11,000 and $5,500 in June and January respectively.

Downer EDI declined to comment.

[ozbob]

...so just being considered then. Oh dear!

I have zero confidence in DTMR with rail. 

Past failure performances are there for all to see. 

[verbatim9]

I wonder if the LNP, if they gain power from Oct 31 will commit to 50 or more new trains for the network?

[ozbob]

The patronage will be down more than likely for a while.  Money will be very tight.  I doubt if the present mob will commit to any more trains at this time or the opposition.

[SABB]

I believe that various options for acquiring 50 more NGR trains have been considered. There are some who are not convinced that buying more fully assembled overseas NGRs is such a great idea. I understand that the idea of chassis fabricated overseas and then further assembled by a fabricator in Oz has been looked at.  I believe that they are having some difficulties with this option.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The first intended original option was to order 3 more carriages to retro fit to existing ngr rollingstock to form 9 car trains (NGR stock can already be run as a 9 car set. TMR/Newman NGR cost cutting moved the toilets to the middle) or order additional 9 car trains when needed both with the intended purpose on ditching increased frequency along with particular lines getting upgrades to be able to use 9 car platforms in future projects (Gold Coast/Caboolture-Nambour/MBRL - has 9 car provisions but some mods were made in cost cutting under newman/tmr ie Petrie and Kippa Ring being the most notable).

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland's $4.4b trains failed to meet standards. Only one is fixed

Only one of the 75 new Queensland trains that failed to meet modern disability access standards has been modified to meet the requirement, eight months into a $335 million contract.

Now disability access and rail commuter groups are questioning the pace of modifications and asking if another "rail fail" looms as the October state election nears.

The Queensland government in January 2019 set aside $335 million to add a second toilet to the trains, make the toilets 10 per cent larger, improve internal seating and improve signage after an inquiry found the new trains, built under a $4.4 billion contract, did not meet disability access standards.

The New Generation Rollingstock project began and stalled in the later years of the Bligh government, was revived by the Newman government, which ordered non-compliant trains from overseas to save money, before it became a political hot potato during the first term of the Palaszczuk government.

People using wheelchairs could not fit into the toilets, the aisles in the NGR trains were too narrow for wheelchairs, while in other problems train drivers complained they could not see the train properly.

The contract to improve disability access in the 75 six-passenger carriage sets was awarded in January 2019 to Downer EDI in Maryborough, to be completed by 2024.

The Queensland government gave Downer a further $10 million to expand its Maryborough plant to modify the trains.

The Transport and Main Roads website confirms only one train has been updated.

The first train arrived in Maryborough in October 2019.

Brisbane Times questioned the pace of work and was told that "at its peak, up to eight NGR trains will be upgraded at once at Downer's Maryborough plant".

However neither Downer nor the government would outline how long it would take to modify each six-passenger car train, if extra staff are needed and whether the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed work.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey declined an interview, issuing a statement that the government had a contract with Downer that all 75 six-car carriages would be modified by 2024.

"Transport and Main Roads, who are managing this contract, have advised that the consortium is on track to meet that deadline and they have also advised that there are no significant delays to the timetable for the work to be completed in Maryborough due to the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement said.

"We always expected the first upgraded NGR train would be back operating on the Queensland Rail network this year and we're on track for that."

Mr Bailey said the work would support 100 manufacturing jobs.

"The Palaszczuk government provided $10 million to Downer so it could upgrade facilities that would allow it to work on up to eight NGRs at a time," he said.

"They are now getting ready to ramp up work as part of the $335 million NGR contract."

However, Geoff Trappett, a Paralympic athlete who formed disability advocacy group Inclusion Moves, said he was concerned at the apparent lack of progress.

"The fight for best-practice inclusive transport is far from over and I encourage each and every citizen of Queensland to ensure they hold the government of the day to their commitments," Trappett said.

"With a state election around the corner, it is projects like these that the disabled community will be looking to for surety that their rights as full citizens will be upheld."

Under the plan, up to eight trains would be withdrawn from the CityTrain fleet of 135 trains and modified in Maryborough.

Rail Back on Track transport advocate Robert Dow said Queensland Rail would halve some "six-car sets" into two "three-car sets" to cope with peak rail traffic demand.

"People don't like the three-car sets because they get congested," he said.

"But I think there may be occasions where if they have eight NGR trains out constantly for the next few years, there will be occasions where they are going to have to go back and run some three-car peak services."

Queensland Transport said taking eight trains and six-car carriages out of the CityTrain fleet would have no impact.

[ozbob]

I have zero confidence in TMR's ability to manage a birthday party at the Golden Arches ... let alone anything to do with rail.

Bumblers are still there bumbling along ...

[ozbob]

NGR 735 should be out and about in a week or two.

[ozbob]

^

Queensland Parliament
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2020/661-2020.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 661

Asked on 18 June 2020

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

QUESTION:

With respect to the modifications being made to the New Generation Rollingstock at the
Maryborough workshops—

Will the Minister provide an update on progress, including the amount of time involved in the
rectification process and the number completed?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

The Member for Chatsworth was the Assistant Minister for Public Transport under the previous
Newman LNP Government when the decision was made to order the New Generation
Rollingstock Trains from overseas.

As the Forde Inquiry laid out in detail "the Commission was advised that the critical decision to
reduce the number of toilets on the NGR train, as well as the decision to remove the intermediate
guard cab, was driven by the former Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main
Roads, Mr Michael Caltabiano."

This was the critical decision under the Newman Government which rendered the NGR trains
non-compliant with the federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

It is the Palaszczuk Government which is rectifying these trains—to ensure they are accessible
to all Queenslanders—in Maryborough.

I am advised the $335.7 million New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) accessibility upgrade project
is on track to deliver 75 fully accessible NGR trains into passenger service by 2024.

Installation of the modification to the first NGR train is physically complete, with the train now
undergoing extensive testing before it returns to passenger service later this year. Once the
upgrade program gets up to full speed in 2021, there will be up to eight trains progressing through
the upgrade program at once.

The design of the upgrades is the result of extensive consultation and co-design with the disability
sector, and includes:

• addition of a second accessible toilet module on all 75 NGR trains
• ten per cent increase in circulation space inside the toilet modules
• improved sink design
• more grab/handrails
• priority seats increased from 24 to 88 per train.

The project will sustain existing jobs at the Downer rail facility in Maryborough as well as create
new positions and apprenticeships, with up to 100 people working on the upgrades at their peak.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Queensland Government investigates whether new trains use parts made by slave labour from Chinese Uyghur camps

Queensland's Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey has directed his department to review whether the state's New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains contain parts sourced from slave labour factories in China.

Earlier this week, the US Government announced it had blacklisted KTK and 19 other companies from future contracts, after finding they were implicated in human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs in China.

The Queensland Government has an ongoing relationship with KTK, and Mr Bailey said he had now directed his department to determine the extent of the existing contracts.

"My department is urgently investigating KTK Australia's role in the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) project that was manufactured overseas," Mr Bailey said.

"KTK supplied parts for the NGR trains that were built overseas several years ago, and we're aware KTK has also previously been contracted as a supplier of parts and components for other rail projects in Sydney and Melbourne."

Mr Bailey said the Government condemned human rights abuses of any kind, and expected QTECTIC, as the maintainer of the NGR trains, to arrange alternate suppliers as soon as possible.

Queensland's NGR trains are currently not operational and are being modified at a cost of $335 million to become compliant with the federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

"The contract to design and construct the fleet of 75 new passenger trains overseas was signed by the former Newman LNP Government," Mr Bailey said.

"The contract to manage and maintain the NGR fleet under a public-private partnership structure was also struck under the Newman LNP Government.

"Under that structure, the QTECTIC consortium is responsible for the ongoing management and maintenance of the NGR fleet."

Federal Government point fingers over failing to pick up allegations

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said procurements were a matter for State and Territory Governments.

"The Australian Government encourages state and territory governments to take action to respond to modern slavery risks in their supply chains," the statement said.

"The Modern Slavery Act 2018 requires the Australian Government and Australian businesses to publicly account for how they respond to modern slavery risks in global operations and supply chains."

The spokesperson did not answer whether the Commonwealth had supplied any state government with information about KTK.

Mr Bailey confirmed his office had not had any contact or correspondence from the Federal Government or any Commonwealth agencies about KTK.

'Workers reminded not to misbehave'

Fan Jiang, managing director of KTK Australia, told the ABC the company rejected the allegations it had used forced labour at any of its facilities in China.

"In announcing that 11 Chinese companies had been added to its sanctions list, the United States Department of Commerce specifically states those companies are 'implicated' in wrongdoing without providing any proof," Mr Jiang said.

He also said KTG Group did not have any investments in the United States.

"KTK Group is a transparent company and welcome any international customers to inspect our facilities and to audit our labour practices," Mr Jiang said.

Earlier this year the Australian Strategic Policy Institute published a report that named KTK Group as a company that had used forced labour of Uyghurs in at least one of its factories.

The report's author Vicky Xiuzhong Xu said ASPI had verified the claims by reading hundreds of government documents, Chinese state media reports, and via an investigation with the Washington Post.

"We found that typically these workers live under very close surveillance, they have a surveillance app on their phone, and they are being watched by the police officers at the factories," Ms Xu said.

"After work hours they take on mandatory Mandarin lessons and political indoctrination sessions, and their family members get regular visits from party members to remind them not to misbehave."

Ms Xu said she believed the way both the Commonwealth and state governments responded to this issue was a test of Australia's commitment to human rights and its modern slavery legislation.

"An investigation into KTG Group and their contracts with Australian state governments is overdue," she said.

"But I think given the response from the United States we are looking to see and test if Australia's modern slavery act will be able to protect us from slave labour, and do what is says which is to safeguard our values on human rights."

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Concerns Queensland NGR train parts were built by Chinese forced-labour workers

The state government has launched an investigation into whether parts for the troublesome New Generation Rollingstock trains were manufactured by a Chinese company accused of forced labour.

The trains, which were a $4.4 billion contract rolled out in 2017 to meet demand for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, were found to fail disability standards during a 2018 inquiry.

This week, the United States Government named KTK group as one 11 Chinese companies implicated in alleged human rights abuses.

It followed a report on forced labour in China from the the US State Department-funded Australian Strategic Policy Institute that was released in March.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the Department of Transport and Main Roads was investigating KTK Australia's role in the NGR project, after the issue was raised by ABC News.

"KTK supplied parts for the NGR trains that were built overseas several years ago, and we're aware KTK has also previously been contracted as a supplier of parts and components for other rail projects in Sydney and Melbourne," Mr Bailey said in a statement.

"Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads is determining the current extent of the commercial agreements that its private sector partners have with KTK, or its parent company.

"The Palaszczuk Government strongly condemns human rights abuses of any kind, so we will be expecting Qtectic, as the maintainer of the NGR trains, to arrange alternate suppliers as soon as practicably possible.

"My office has not had any contact or correspondence from the Federal Government or Commonwealth agencies about KTK, or specifically about the allegations that have been made by the US Government and others."

The NGR project began and stalled in the later years of the Bligh government.

It was revived by the Newman LNP government, which ordered non-compliant trains from overseas to save money, before it became a political hot potato during the first term of the Palaszczuk Labor government.

People using wheelchairs could not fit into the toilets, the aisles in the NGR trains were too narrow for wheelchairs and train drivers complained they could not see the train properly.

The state government in January 2019 set aside $335 million to add a second toilet to the trains, make the toilets 10 per cent larger, improve internal seating and improve signage.

Since rectification work began eight months, only one of the 75 NGR trains has been modified to meet disability requirements.

The contract is due to be completed by 2024 by Downer EDI in Maryborough.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1286544295365754880

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> KTK Australia denies forced labour allegations

Allegations that slave labour was used in the production of components used in a number of Australian rollingstock fleets have been strongly denied by KTK Australia.

In a statement, KTK Australia said that such allegations "are based on no official documents, interviews or testimony".

The allegations stem from a US Department of Commerce blacklist that included KTK Australia's parent company, KTK Group. The US Department of Commerce said that KTK Group was implicated in human rights violations such as the forced labour of Muslim minority groups from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

KTK Australia disputed the basis for these implications.

"KTK Group has never employed workers who are members of the Uyghur ethnic minority," said the KTK Australia statement.

KTK Australia's website lists its components as in use on a number of Australian rollingstock fleets. These include NSW's New Intercity Fleet (NIF), and Sydney Metro, the X'Trapolis and High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) in Victoria, and Queensland's Next Generation Rollingstock (NGR).

Bombardier, which manufactures the NGR fleet, said that it was closely looking into the allegations.

"Bombardier Transportation is aware of the recent action by the United States Commerce Department in relation to KTK Group Co. We are actively monitoring this new dynamic – impacting the transportation industry – and any effect this could have on our own supply chain, projects and products," said a Bombardier Transportation spokesman.

In Bombardier's Supplier Code of Conduct, which all suppliers must agree to, forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking are explicitly prohibited. The code outlines:

Bombardier will not engage in the use of forced or enslaved labour or human trafficking, nor will it tolerate their use at any level in its supply chains. Suppliers must not demand any work or service from any person under the menace of any penalty. For example, Suppliers' employees must be free to leave work or terminate their employment with reasonable notice, and they are not required to surrender any government issued identification, passports or work permits as a condition of employment.

Alstom, which manufactures the Sydney Metro and X'Trapolis fleet, also prohibits forced labour in its supply chain. Its Ethics and Sustainable Development Charter requires that suppliers commit to the "elimination of all forms of illegal, forced or compulsory labour".

A Victorian Department of Transport spokesperson said that it was assured that there is no evidence of forced labour in the supply chains of its rollingstock.

"We have asked our manufacturers to take additional steps to ensure the integrity of their supply chains, and we continue to monitor the situation and will consider further steps based on the outcomes of ongoing supply chain investigations."

A Transport for NSW spokesperson highlighted that suppliers must comply with Australian laws covering subcontracting and reporting requirements.

"Transport for NSW also has rights to access and audit the supplier's records and the materials, goods, workmanship or work methodology employed at any place where the supplier's activities are being carried out."

The NSW spokesperson said that the components in use on the NIF were from the French arm of KTK.

In a report published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), which is in part funded by the US State Department, KTK Group is named as one company that was involved in the transfer of Uyghurs out of Xinjiang. The report cites online news articles.

KTK Australia noted that the cited articles refer to non-Uyghur workers from Xinjiang constructing a playground in a city in Jiangsu province.

"KTK Group confirms that in 2018-19 it did employ a small number of workers from Xinjiang, who were not ethnically Uyghurs, all were properly employed and paid the same wage as all KTK other workers in the same positions," the KTK Australia statement read.

The US Department of Commerce blacklist prohibits US companies from working with listed companies. KTK Group has no investments in the US and said the decision would not have a material impact on the business, the company said.

"KTK Group is a transparent company and we welcome any international customers to inspect our facilities and to audit our labour practices."

[BrizCommuter]

Is there a train shortage at the moment as I noticed a 3-car unit on Beenleigh-Ferny Grove sector in this morning's peak?

[ozbob]

Is there a train shortage at the moment as I noticed a 3-car unit on Beenleigh-Ferny Grove sector in this morning's peak?

Just wait until 8 NGRs at a time are pulled for the DDA modifications ...

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg237784#msg237784 *

*

" ... Rail Back on Track transport advocate Robert Dow said Queensland Rail would halve some "six-car sets" into two "three-car sets" to cope with peak rail traffic demand.

"People don't like the three-car sets because they get congested," he said.

"But I think there may be occasions where if they have eight NGR trains out constantly for the next few years, there will be occasions where they are going to have to go back and run some three-car peak services."

Queensland Transport said taking eight trains and six-car carriages out of the CityTrain fleet would have no impact. ... "

[ozbob]

For information ..

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1290059307833163776