The QTMP will see 65 six-car trains built in time for the 2032 Olympics. Photo: Queensland Rail.
A new $30 million manufacturing facility will be built at Maryborough on the Fraser Coast as part of the Queensland Government’s $9.5 billion Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP).
Downer and its program partner Hyundai Rotem will build the new train car sub-components facility on an industrial site at the 30,000 sqm QTMP site currently being established at Torbanlea. It will eventually produce 65 six-car trains for the Queensland Government, with all the new trains entering service in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The roll-forming facility will bring work to the region that was previously only available overseas and will add 20 new jobs to the program. Roll forming is the continuous bending of a long strip of sheet metal – typically coiled steel – to make sub-components for train car bodies.
The QTMP will support 800 construction and manufacturing jobs.
Downer was awarded the Design Build Maintain Contract (DBM) for QTMP earlier this year and has partnered with the Hyundai Rotem Corporation (HRC) to manufacture the new trains.
The first QTMP train is due to roll out in 2026 and will begin testing before entering passenger service in 2027. The design of the trains is being done with input from the disability sector to ensure they are compliant, functional and accessible for all passengers.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey welcomed Hyundai Rotem’s additional investment in the facility.
“Our commitment to bring train manufacturing to Queensland is attracting additional investment,” he said.
“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.”
Concept art of how the completed QTMP facility will look. Image: John Holland
Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads and Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the announcement was 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,” he said.
“In the coming months, we will start to see a brand-new manufacturing facility rise from the ground up.
“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.”
Hyundai Rotem CEO Yong-Bae Lee added, “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,” he said.
“We believe this investment strengthens Queensland’s rail manufacturing capabilities while creating new jobs in the region.”
