Returning train manufacturing to the Hunter is a step closer with the NSW Government today confirming the former mine site at Teralba as the preferred location for the new state-owned facility that will build the next generation of NSW passenger trains.
The announcement is another step towards rebuilding local manufacturing in the Hunter, with the Future Fleet Program expected to support up to 780 jobs during construction and around 550 ongoing jobs across the facility and supply chains.
The facility is a major part of the Minns Labor Government’s $12 billion Future Fleet Program to rebuild local train manufacturing capability in the Hunter after it was sent offshore by the former Liberal-National government.
By establishing a local manufacturing facility and a long-term pipeline of train orders, the Government is giving industry greater certainty to invest in local workers, apprenticeships and businesses.
Following a preliminary assessment of the Glencore-owned land at Teralba and the NSW Government-owned Broadmeadow site, planning for the new state-owned production facility will now progress at Teralba, subject to further investigations, planning and land acquisition arrangements.
Work undertaken by the Government found Teralba offers a larger and more flexible site that could accommodate train manufacturing, assembly, commissioning and on-site dynamic testing, while also providing capacity for future expansion.
The Teralba site aligns with NSW Government-led planning for the Macquarie Coal Complex Transformation Precinct, which is being progressed with Lake Macquarie City Council and Glencore through a State Significant Rezoning process.
The precinct provides an opportunity to transform the former mining land into a major manufacturing and employment hub, building on the industrial skills and experience that have supported the Hunter economy for generations.
Broadmeadow remains an alternative option at this stage, while detailed investigations, due diligence and acquisition activities continue at Teralba.
The Hunter facility will guarantee more than 30 years of train manufacturing in NSW, starting with the new Tangara replacement fleet before future replacement programs for the Millennium and OSCAR fleets in the 2040s and the Waratah fleet in the 2050s.
The Future Fleet Program will support long-term jobs for workers, apprentices and local businesses and specialist manufacturers in the Hunter. We are already building capacity in the train manufacturing workforce in the Hunter with work on the Tangara Life Extension Program underway at the Cardiff rail facility and Sydney. This employs 100 new qualified workers and 20 apprentices.
The Government will now progress detailed site investigations and due diligence with Glencore to enable further site planning, design and procurement work to commence. Construction timeframes and delivery milestones will be confirmed as the project progresses.
This announcement follows the EOI opening last month for manufacturing firms to design and build the next fleet of NSW passenger trains here in the Hunter.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
“For more than a century, workers in the Hunter proudly built the trains that carried millions of people around Sydney.
“Then those jobs were sent overseas. We’re bringing them back, because we believe NSW should build more of the things we need right here at home.
“This means good, secure jobs for workers in the Hunter, more opportunities for young people to learn a trade, and more business for local manufacturers.
“And for Sydney commuters, it means new trains built for our network, with local workers and expertise to help keep them running for decades to come.”
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“The Teralba site is in a great location, has enough space for manufacturing and testing, the potential to become a bigger industrial hub and would make great use of a former mine site.
“This is about building the next generation of trains in NSW, creating skilled jobs in the Hunter and securing the manufacturing capability our transport network will need for decades to come.
“The Hunter has the industrial heritage, skilled workforce and supply chain strengths to help make this facility a success and deliver lasting benefits for the region.”
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:
“This is a great day for the Hunter and a clear signal to business, industry and our community about where our region is heading.
“We’re not just bringing train manufacturing back to the Hunter. We’re investing $12 billion in jobs for the future. We’re giving former mining land a new purpose and we’re building on the industrial strength that has powered this region for generations.
“This is a good decision for local jobs, a good decision for industry and a huge vote of confidence in the Hunter’s future.”
Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:
“The Minns Labor Government is making great progress in bringing train manufacturing back to the Hunter, and this is the next phase in making that promise a reality.
“Not only will this state-owned facility see trains built in the Hunter for the next 30 years, but it will give parents the confidence that their children will have the chance to work in their own communities.
“The Hunter has a proud history of building trains. We’re incredibly pleased to be bringing it back to where it belongs.”
Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:
“Bringing train manufacturing back to the Hunter is a crucial part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild domestic manufacturing in NSW.
“We are backing local manufacturing because it creates secure, skilled jobs and delivers long-term economic benefits for NSW.
“We know that for every job in manufacturing, a further three and a half are created in the supply chain, and we want more of those jobs in NSW.”
Transport Secretary Josh Murray said:
“This Hunter facility will be central to delivering trains that meet the needs of passengers and the network, while supporting the skills, jobs and industry capability needed to sustain rail manufacturing in NSW.
“This investment will help grow the specialist capability needed to design, build and sustain a modern rail fleet, while creating opportunities for workers and businesses across NSW. We have delivered site-selection on program, after last month launching the EOI for industry partners to deliver the trains. Future Fleet is taking shape at pace.”
Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said:
“A locally built fleet means trains designed for our network, supported by local expertise and backed by a stronger NSW rail industry.
“For our passengers and frontline teams, the new train fleet will improve reliability, comfort and performance as we invest in a modern, world-class rail network.”
