- 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.
