New rail council aiming to keep train building in Australia
A new council has come together in Maryborough as the city builds towards its 150th anniversary of train building, sharing its plans to deliver a national rail strategy.
Fraser Coast
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As Maryborough gears up to celebrate its 150th anniversary of rail manufacturing, a committee aiming to develop a national strategy committed to the future of train building in Australia has visited the city.
Maryborough Labor MP Bruce Saunders was on hand to welcome Assistant Manufacturing Minister Tim Ayres and the members of the Rail Industry Innovation Council to the city.
Mr Saunders said for 150 years, rail manufacturing had been an essential part of Maryborough’s economy, which continued on Wednesday with the Downer factory and the $239 million dollar train factory to be built at Torbanlea.
The major announcement, which will bring 800 jobs to the region, was made at City Hall in Maryborough by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mr Saunders in 2021.
The decision to build trains on the Fraser Coast came after a $335 million rectification project was awarded to the Maryborough factory after Rollingstock trains, manufactured in India, were found to be non-compliant with disability access laws.
The $4.4 billion project was manufactured in India by a consortium led by Bombardier with a designed approved by the LNP Government in 2013.
But the NGR trains failed disability access tests, including having space for wheelchairs to move into the aisle.
The aim of the new council is to focus on avoiding such issues in the future by delivering a national strategy for the domestic manufacture of high quality, low emissions passenger trains.
During the visit, it was announced Jacqui Walters would be appointed to the role of National Rail Manufacturing Advocate for the council, to serve along with eight other leading experts.
Mr Ayres said Australians could make trains of the future instead of sending projects offshore, which cost Australia thousands of good blue collar jobs.
“The Albanese Government is determined to reverse that and deliver more good manufacturing jobs in our regions and outer suburbs,” he said.
Ms Walters said the council represented the opportunity to improve competitiveness, innovation and growth within the nation’s rail manufacturing industry.
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