More than $70 million in Queensland Rail works now underway in Maryborough

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey and Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders today visited Downer EDI’s Maryborough workshop to inspect progress on a series of major rail projects underway, valued at more than $70 million.   

Minister Bailey said the projects were committed to Downer late last year in order to ensure the continued support of local rail jobs in Maryborough.  

“It’s great to be in Maryborough today, meeting with local Downer workers and seeing the real impacts that awarding work locally can have on a community,” Mr Bailey said.  

“This community has a long and proud history in Queensland’s rail industry, and the Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting the local and experienced workforce by investing in Downer to undertake these significant projects locally.   

“In September 2017, the Palaszczuk Government committed a series of works valued at approximately $70 million to Downer to ensure it continued to sustain local jobs at its Maryborough workshop. I’m pleased to confirm seven contracts have now been awarded, with work now well underway on many of these major pieces of work.   

“We saw the LNP abandon local manufacturing workers when Campbell Newman was in power, so I am very proud to support this iconic Queensland facility and the people of Maryborough.

“Queensland Rail awarded its most recent contract to Downer as recently as last week, which involves a $23.5 million mechanical overhaul of its L-Series fleet which services the Inlander that travels to Mount Isa, the Spirit of the Outback that connects through to Longreach and the Westlander, which services out to Charleville.

 “This builds upon a major $21 million project awarded to Downer in March to overhaul 15 diesel-electric locomotives, which haul the Kuranda Scenic Railway train in Cairns, the Inlander, the Spirit of the Outback and the Westlander.  

“Additionally, the awarding of a $14.6 million contract in March to overhaul 18 bogie sets on Queensland Rail’s IMU 160/260 Citytrain fleet will build upon $7.8 million in bogie overhaul works for the IMU 120/SMU200 series, which has been underway since this contract was awarded in 2017.   

“The trains undergoing the bogie overhauls were originally built here in Maryborough by Downer, so it’s exciting to see their servicing and maintenance work will be carried out by them too.”   

Further contracts for which works are now underway include:  

• $6.8 million overhaul of 32 air conditioning units
• $900,000 to service 33 transformers which convert electricity into a manageable power supply for the trains that service the South East Queensland network
• $770,000 overhaul of the converter cooling on IMU160/260 series.  

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said it was great to see so much happening at Downer’s Maryborough workshop, and that the $70 million of works were ensuring local railway workers could continue to be employed locally, and return home to their families each night.

“These projects are part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Buy Queensland policy, which highlights the importance of government contracts going to local businesses and supporting local communities,” he said.

“Downer EDI is an outstanding example of the direct benefits – a steady stream of local work for regional Queenslanders, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to supporting key industries in regional economies.

“We’re extremely pleased to see progress tracking as planned on the projects which are due to continue into 2021, and the continued benefits to the local community here in Maryborough.”

ENDS  

Media contact: Dominic Geiger 0447 355 565