AUSTRALIAN rolling stock manufacturer Downer has announced contract close for the Queensland Train Manufacturing Programme (QTMP) to supply 65 six-car EMUs to the Queensland state government.

The contract will generate revenue of $A 4.6bn ($US 3.06bn) for Downer, according to the company, and will create 1300 new jobs during the delivery of the new fleet and associated infrastructure work.

What is described as the largest rolling stock investment programme in the state’s history will include the construction of a manufacturing facility at Torbanlea in the Fraser Coast region of Queensland to build the new fleet.

The contract also includes the delivery of a maintenance and stabling facility at Ormeau in the Gold Coast region, and the supply of two driver training simulators.

Downer will maintain the new EMU fleet, the simulators and the Ormeau facility for an initial term of 15 years and for a maximum of 35 years.

Downer says that construction of the manufacturing and maintenance facilities will commence later this year. The new factory at Torbanlea will be built by John Holland and the Ormeau maintenance facility by DT Infrastructure, formerly Downer Infrastructure.

A Downer spokesperson confirmed to IRJ that the company has partnered with Hyundai Rotem of Korea for the design and delivery of the new fleet.

Hyundai Rotem says that its participation in the QTMP joint venture will involve undertaking train design, materials procurement and technology transfer for local production, quality control and defect repair.

This business will be worth Won 1216.4bn ($US 935m), according to Hyundai Rotem, although Downer says that arrangements between the joint venture partners are commercially confidential.

The new EMUs will be the first in Queensland that meet the Australian federal government’s Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transportation (DSAPT).

Hyundai Rotem says that the fleet will features new technology that enables the train height to be adjusted to match that of the platform, facilitating level boarding.

The first new EMUs are expected to enter service at the end of 2026 with the entire new fleet in operation by 2032.

To support the delivery of the QTMP design, build and maintain contract, Downer has agreed what it says is Australia’s first standalone green syndicated bank guarantee facility with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ING Bank, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank and Westpac Banking.

The work to be delivered under the QTMP contract qualifies as eligible green assets under the “clean transport” criteria of the Asian Pacific Loan Market Association’s Green Loan Principles.

Clean transport includes modes such as electric passenger trains and supporting infrastructure that advance an economy’s transition to net zero.

According to Downer CEO, Mr Peter Tompkins, the new QTMP fleet will become a crucial element of southeast Queensland’s public transport system as Brisbane prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.

“We look forward to working closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to deliver this iconic project for the people of Queensland,” he said.

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