In good news for Australia’s rail manufacturing industry, the NSW Government will spend billions of dollars to replace the Tangara fleet of suburban passenger trains, with a 50% of domestic manufacturing target.
The 55 8-car trains of the Tangara fleet, currently about a quarter of Sydney Trains’ suburban passenger fleet, began operating in the late 1980s and are due to be retired by 2027.
The replacement fleet will be the first in a long-term pipeline of locally built trains that extends out to the 2050s.
In July 2023, the NSW and Federal Government’s held a roundtable discussion on the future of rail manufacturing.
In a press release about the discussion, Assistant Federal Minister for Manufacturing Senator Tim Ayres said NSW was heading in the right direction.
“We want trains and rollingstock that are built and designed in Australia for Australian conditions,” he said.
“The National Rail Manufacturing Plan is the key component of the Albanese government’s plan to see more trains built and designed by Aussies.
“Our plan will ensure the sector is better placed to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities in rail procurement by driving a more nationally coordinated approach to rail manufacturing, to provide the certainty industry needs to invest in Australia.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the roundtable was “a critical first step on the path to our commitment to build the next generation of trains that replace the Tangaras here in NSW”.
“We make some of the best trains in the world. This important work will give our companies and workers the best chance to compete with their overseas rivals.
Transport for NSW is currently working with ICN NSW to map the supply chain, using ICN Gateway.
“Through Tangara replacements and the long-term fleet pipeline, the NSW Government wants to leave a strong community legacy of secure and skilled rail manufacturing jobs and apprenticeships in a revitalised NSW and Australian rail manufacturing industry,” ICN NSW Manufacturing Manager Marcus said.
“Transport for NSW and Sydney Trains have started early project planning and development for the Tangara replacement fleet, which will be supported by ongoing industry engagement over the next couple of years.
“The supply chain mapping will help uncover the scale of the opportunity for rail manufacturers in NSW specifically, and across Australia and New Zealand more broadly.
“Other NSW train fleets will need replacing through the 2040s and 2050s, which means Transport for NSW and Sydney Trains are looking to establish a sustainable rolling stock manufacture pipeline and foster collaboration across the supply chain. These projects will continue to unlock new opportunities for local rail manufacturing businesses.”
Find out more, or submit an expression of interest, on the Future Fleet Gateway page.
