Torbanlea train contract still up in air despite supply meeting
A ‘supply chain’ meeting hosted by one of the businesses fighting to build the trains Queensland needs for the Olympics sparked speculation it was the frontrunner but more details have emerged which could explain the move.
Fraser Coast
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A meeting on Wednesday afternoon, calling on supply chain expressions of interest for the billion-dollar Torbanlea rail factory, sparked speculation Alstom was confident it would win the lucrative contract.
The company, which acquired Bombardier in 2020, had advertised the forum and also called on local suppliers to support the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program.
But Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the decision was far from made, with the other two companies also in the running, CAF and Downer, which already has a factory on the Fraser Coast, set to hold similar meetings in the coming weeks.
He said it was a requirement for all three to hold the meetings to ensure Queensland suppliers were used to build the 65 new passenger sets for Brisbane, which would be a vital ingredient in the infrastructure the city needs to host the Olympic Games in 2032.
“This is part and parcel of the contractual obligations, the three have got to do it,” Mr Saunders said.
He said parts could not be made overseas and shipped in – the idea was to “share the love” across the state.
Mr Saunders has said that regardless of the outcome of the tender for the Torbanlea factory, which is set to be announced in September, the future of the 150 year old Maryborough manufacturing company (formerly known as Walkers), was assured.
Maryborough’s Downer factory is currently responsible for repairing the Indian-built QR rollingstock fleet.
In 2019, at a celebration of 150 years of train making in Maryborough, the State Government committed to a $300 million pipeline of local rail manufacturing over the next decade.
At the time, Ms Palaszczuk said the agreement between Queensland Rail and Downer lead to major projects like the overhaul of electric and diesel Tilt Trains as well as the IMU160 and SMU260 fleet brought to Maryborough.
“The next decade brings new opportunities and a new era for Downer and for Maryborough as work begins to make Queensland’s fleet of New Generation Rollingstock trains disability compliant,” she said at the time.
The purpose-built $239 million rollingstock manufacturing factory at Torbanlea was part of the State Government’s $7.1 billion commitment to reboot rail manufacturing in the Maryborough region.
A spokesman from Downer would not comment on whether the business felt confident of getting the contract or what impact it might have if the company was unsuccessful.
“Downer is participating in the tender process for the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, and as such we are unable to provide any comment on the below,” he said.
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