Beenleigh Steel Fabrications has won a $40 million contract to deliver structural steel for the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP).
As part of the contract, Beenleigh Steel Fabrications will supply and install 2400 tonnes of structural steel for the buildings that will make up the QTMP train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea, near Maryborough.
The company won the contract following a competitive tender process due to demonstrated capability and capacity, its advanced fabrication workshop at Berrinba and commitment to local and indigenous employment.
The QTMP aims to build 65 new six-car passenger trains at a purpose-built manufacturing facility at Torbanlea in the Maryborough region. As part of the program, a new rail facility will also be constructed at Ormeau, in the Gold Coast region.
Downer was awarded the Design Build Maintain Contract for QTMP in June 2023. They have sub-contracted John Holland to build the train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea.
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Buildings being constructed by Beenleigh Steel Fabrications at Torbanlea include the train manufacturing facility, administrative building, a gatehouse, and pump house.
The contract is expected to create six new jobs, and the hiring of 10 apprentices and four trainees. The new jobs will bolster Beenleigh Steel Fabrication’s 80 strong Queensland workforce.
Construction of the train manufacturing facility buildings is scheduled to start mid-2024 and is planned for completion in early 2025.
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.
Queensland Deputy Premier, Treasurer, and Trade and Investment Minister Cameron Dick said the state has a great manufacturing history which is why it was important to bring train manufacturing back to the Sunshine State.
“Beenleigh Steel Fabrications, based in the Woodridge electorate, is one of these great Queensland manufacturing success stories, a story that will continue for years to come,” Dick said.
“The $40 million contract with Beenleigh Steel will not only deliver the structural steel for the train manufacturing facilities, it will also create six good jobs, 10 apprenticeships and four traineeships.
“The new jobs at Beenleigh Steel are part of 360 needed to build the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program facility and more than 380 required to manufacture the trains.”
Queensland Regional Development and Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher said the State Government was proud to deliver the QTMP.
“More than 360 jobs will be supported during construction of the facility overall, with another 380-plus long-term manufacturing jobs supported to build the QTMP trains when manufacturing begins,” Butcher said.