Appointed to deliver advisory services to Queensland Train Manufacturing Program
The Queensland Government is investing AU$9.5bn in the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) to meet the growing demand for rail transport in South East Queensland over the next decade. This initiative will improve network efficiency, increase capacity, and stimulate economic and regional growth.
The Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) has appointed Turner & Townsend's Australia team to provide project management office advisory and cost and commercial management services for the QTMP. This builds on its previous work with TMR as cost and commercial management and programme management advisors during the Readiness for Market (RFM) phase in late 2020.
As part of the programme, 65 new six-car passenger trains will be manufactured at a purpose-built train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea, in the Maryborough region. The fleet will be stabled and maintained at a new rail facility which will be constructed at Ormeau, in the Gold Coast region.
The QTMP will be a key supporter of major programmes like Cross River Rail and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is expected to bring in 110,000 visitors and competitors. The construction of the facilities, trains, and the ongoing maintenance of the fleet will also benefit the local job market. The QTMP will support Queensland jobs now and into the future, and create a long-term, sustainable pipeline of training and development opportunities.
Having previously worked on major programmes such as METRONET in Western Australia and Sydney Metro in New South Wales, this new appointment expands the global professional services company's programme management office capability in Australia and within the rail sector.
Construction of the manufacturing and facilities commenced in late 2023, and all trains are expected to be in service by 2032.
Kim Wilson, Project Director, Australia, said:
Our collaboration with the Department of Transport & Main Roads is over two decades in the making and we look forward to strengthening this relationship on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program together and supporting the development of this significant, long-term opportunity.
“We have the opportunity to uplift the performance of this critical rail program for the state through the deployment of its best-in-class programme management systems and processes. These, coupled with our digital reporting, is how we continue to transform performance on major programmes across Australia."
