First new generation commuter train sails into Brisbane

South East Queensland’s flagship fleet of new generation trains are on track to begin servicing commuters in the second half of this year, with the first train arriving last night at the Port of Brisbane.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the first train from the fleet of 75 New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) travelled more than 10,500 kilometres by road and sea over the past month to arrive in Brisbane.

“This train is the first of 75 new commuter trains that will be delivered over the next three years to replace the ageing fleet, and boost the number of rollingstock on South East Queensland’s passenger rail network by 30 per cent,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

Over coming days technical specialists will connect the six-car train ready for locomotives to haul it to the purpose-built Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre, west of Ipswich, where it will undergo extensive testing before being put into service.

“The first stop for the train will be the new maintenance centre in Wulkuraka, officially opened on Saturday, where the trains will be serviced, repaired and tested into the future,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“The Wulkuraka facility generated 500 full-time construction jobs for Ipswich and Brisbane while it was built, and the NGR project will support 150 ongoing jobs and up to 1,500 indirect jobs when it is operational.

“The train will undergo extensive testing in Wulkuraka to ensure key operational and safety standards are met and it is ready for passenger services.

“Features of the train that will be tested include the seating, the endurance of the door system and the dynamic performance of the braking and traction systems.”

Mr Hinchliffe said the train was unloaded in a precision operation from the cargo vessel Matsumaeovernight onto a truck and moved to the port’s rail line.

“The cargo vessel arrived last night about 9pm at the Port of Brisbane with the first car of the 260-tonne train unloaded at 2am,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“The six train cars, each about 24.5 metres long, were transported in the vessel’s hull and all six cars are expected to be unloaded by the end of the day.”

Commuters will be able to get on board the first new train when it begins services on the South East Queensland passenger rail network following testing in the second half of the year.

Overlay vision (train being lifted from vessel): Link

Time lapse (train being lifted from vessel): Link 

Photographs (images of the train in the Port): Link

Media Contact:  Jessica Hill 0475 950 772