A total of 246 new C-series railcars to
be locally built and manufactured in Western Australia
- First locally-built METRONET C-series
train takes its inaugural passenger journey
- C-series train will enter regular service
tomorrow
- First passenger train to be locally
built and manufactured in more than 30 years
- New train will operate on the Mandurah
and Joondalup Lines
In a major milestone for local
manufacturing, the first passenger train to be manufactured in Western
Australia in more than 30 years has today taken its maiden journey.
Hundreds of community members and workers
joined Premier Roger Cook and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti on board the new
METRONET C-series train, which took a 50-minute return journey on the Joondalup
Line from Stadium Station.
It is the first of 41 new locally-built C-series
trains to be completed and will formally enter passenger services tomorrow,
operating on the Mandurah and Joondalup Lines.
The new 143-metre train is fitted out with close to 400 seats and is
capable of carrying more than 1,000 passengers. Once operational, the six-car
train will manage more than 103,000 daily passenger boardings.
Passengers will be able to enjoy additional
doors for better access, modern passenger display information and USB ports
under select seats on the six-car sets.
Returning railcar manufacturing has been a
long-held commitment of the WA Labor Government, which promised to bringing
railcar manufacturing home to WA as part of its 2017 Election commitments.
Since then, the WA Labor Government has
established a new railcar manufacturing facility in Bellevue, which currently
employs around 150 workers.
Returning railcar manufacturing to WA is
also boosting the State's industry capabilities with 15 local businesses
playing a role in manufacturing parts for the new trains, including:
- bogie frames (Hofmann Engineering -
Bassendean);
- battery boxes (Aerison -
Forrestfield);
- pantographs (mounts on the roof of
the train that connect with the overhead line, Austbreck - Kewdale);
- passenger seats (McConnell -
Bayswater);
- piping (Parker Hannifin -
Welshpool); and
- metallic components (Unique Metals
- Wangara).
The Government is currently meeting its 50 per cent local content
target, a significant increase on the two per cent local content on the
previous B-series under the Liberal-National Government.
Over the duration of the
10-year railcar contract, 246 new METRONET C-series railcars (41 trains) and
six new Australind railcars (two trains) will be built, helping to meet the
growing demand for train services.
It is anticipated a new METRONET
C-series train will enter passenger services every few months over the life of
the 10-year contract.
Comments attributed to Premier
Roger Cook:
"Local rail manufacturing is back in WA, and under my Labor Government,
it's here to stay.
"Through METRONET, we're already expanding our rail network and
transforming our suburbs, and now we've delivered locally-built railcars.
"We're not stopping here, with hundreds of 'Made in WA' METRONET
railcars set to roll out onto the network over the coming decade - creating
long-term local manufacturing jobs for WA."
Comments attributed to
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We committed to bringing railcar manufacturing back to WA - and to see
the first C-series train make its inaugural trip today will be a proud moment
for all Western Australians.
"It's been a massive journey to reach this point - and we now have a
thriving WA railcar manufacturing industry - with hundreds of workers employed
to both build our trains and manufacture components locally.
"We're continuing to exceed our local manufacturing target of 50 per cent
- with 15 local businesses across Perth currently delivering key components for
the trains.
"From tomorrow, the first C-series train will be available to the entire
community, as it commences passenger services on the Mandurah and Joondalup
Lines.
"I think it will be a moment of pride each time a West Aussie jumps on
this train - knowing it has been built and manufactured right here by our local
workforce."
