The draft design for Australia’s most accessible passenger trains has been put to the test at a Low-Fidelity (Lo-Fi) train mock-up in Geebung, Brisbane.
Members of the disability sector, train passengers, train drivers and bike users have had a chance to inspect the mock-up of the new Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) trains.
A co-design process is ongoing with the disability sector to ensure trains are compliant, functional, and accessible for all passengers.
QTMP will build 65 six-car passenger trains at a purpose-built manufacturing facility at Torbanlea in the Fraser Coast region.
As part of the program, a new rail facility will also be constructed at Ormeau, on the Gold Coast, of which Downer was awarded the contract for in June 2023.
“Downer has a long and distinguished history of train manufacture in Queensland. We are proud to be delivering the most accessible train fleet in Australia on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program,” said Downer, rail COO, Stephen Kakavas.
“In doing so, the QTMP project is leaving a lasting legacy behind on both the Fraser Coast and Gold Coast, by investing in local communities through the supply chain and employment.”
It comes as major accessibility upgrades are completed across all 75 New Generation Rollingstock trains.
The Queensland Government has invested more than $335 million into the upgrade of the entire New Generation Rollingstock fleet, in response to a 2018 Commission of Inquiry.
This package of works is part of the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, which will support 1,300 jobs throughout the life of the project.
The first QTMP train is anticipated to be manufactured and begin testing by late 2026, with all trains expected to be in service by 2032.