- Key election commitment to create more manufacturing jobs on track
- Government tender to be released for one of the biggest orders of railcars in WA history
- $1.6 billion project to deliver 246 new railcars over the next 10 years
- New target of at least 50 per cent for local manufacturing of railcars included
A McGowan Labor Government commitment to create ongoing local jobs is underway, with a tender, set for release this week, calling for proponents to build 246 new METRONET railcars for Perth over the next decade.
The pre-qualification tender for the $1.6 billion project will include a local content target of 50 per cent for the manufacturing of new railcars, honouring a key election commitment as part of WA Labor's Plan for Jobs.
Funding for a local railcar assembly facility and associated infrastructure is also included within the project's budget.
The first stage of the project involves the delivery of 102 new railcars (17 six-car sets) to service the new METRONET projects as they come online.
A follow-on order for 144 railcars (24 six-car sets) will also be included in the tender, to replace the network's ageing A-series railcars which were the first electric railcars on the network.
$508 million was allocated in the 2017-18 State Budget for the METRONET railcars, but the project will now be expanded to include the replacement of the A-series railcars and associated infrastructure.
Delivery of the first 17 new trains, known as the C-series, is due to begin in 2021. The additional 24 trains are expected to be delivered between 2023 and 2028.
Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti made the announcement today at the Public Transport Authority's Nowergup Depot, in front of the first trains from the final order of 10 new three-car B-series trains, to be delivered for the Forrestfield-Airport Link project.
These trains, ordered under the old policy by the previous Liberal National Government, were mostly manufactured in Queensland or overseas, with only two per cent of the work completed in Western Australia.
The companies who apply to build the next generation of METRONET trains will be short-listed to progress to an interactive tendering process before a final supplier is chosen in early 2019.
A key consideration of this tender process will be the supplier's ability and commitment to manufacture or assemble 50 per cent of the railcars in WA. They will also be expected to maintain the railcars for 30 years, creating an ongoing pipeline of work.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"These will be our METRONET trains, so it makes sense that they are our local jobs.
"Not only will METRONET deliver thousands of new constructions jobs, but the increased demand for new railcars will create a pipeline of work to boost our local manufacturing industry and maximise WA jobs.
"My Government's number one priority is WA jobs and with a long-term plan to boost local manufacturing, it makes sense that we cement this strategy in place to build these extra railcars in WA.
"Once these trains are delivered, our existing A-series trains operating on the heritage lines will be coming close to or exceeding their operational life of 30 years."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"These trains will travel up to 280,000km a year for 35 years, so we need to get it right.
"This is a great opportunity to deliver the next generation of trains that can provide more capacity, and faster transfers, and tap into our local workforce to deliver WA projects with local skills.
"The McGowan Government is committed to maximising opportunities for WA jobs, apprenticeships, and businesses, so we believe that with the right supplier on our side, we will be able to keep a significant proportion of the work on these railcars local, and build a highly-skilled home-grown workforce in the process."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500
