Queensland joins WA in move to boost train manufacturing

The Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has promised a $1 billion railcar construction pipeline for the regional city of Maryborough, joining WA which this week provided the first tranche of funds towards its own local railcar manufacturing programme.

The promise, which would apply should Labor be re-elected at the coming state election, includes $600 million for Downer to construct 20 new trains in the city and a $1 million spend on a business case for the replacement of regional train carriages.

The regional carriages are likely to cost $150 million and would also be manufactured in Maryborough.

Palaszczuk said: “This $1 billion train building program heralds a new and ambitious chapter for manufacturing, not just for Maryborough, but for Queensland.

“This long-term future pipeline of work means there will be rewarding long-term career paths for our young people in trades like boilermaking, fitter machining and as electricians.”

The WA budget included a $275.3 million first tranche of fund to procure 246 new locally made railcars and establish a local assembly and manufacturing facility at Bellevue.

Picture: Annastacia Palaszczuk with Cameron Dick MP and Bruce Saunders.

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