Work has begun on the first Tangara train to be refurbished at Newcastle’s Cardiff Maintenance Centre, marking a milestone in efforts to rebuild rail manufacturing capability in the Hunter.
The first of 18 Tangara trains to undergo refurbishment at the Cardiff facility has entered the workshop, where work is underway to extend its operational life by 10 to 15 years.
The refurbishment program will support around 100 skilled jobs and 20 apprenticeships at the site, while helping rebuild the workforce needed for the New South Wales Government’s long-term rail manufacturing plans.
The announcement follows the NSW Government’s commitment to establish a new state-owned train manufacturing facility in the Hunter, with at least 30 years of rolling stock production planned. Two potential locations, Teralba and the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot, are currently being assessed.
The proposed facility is expected to support up to 780 construction jobs and around 550 ongoing jobs across manufacturing and supply chains.
The Tangara refurbishment program is intended to provide continuity of work while new train manufacturing ramps up.
The existing $447 million Tangara Life Extension Program includes upgrades to internal cladding, operating systems, passenger information displays, CCTV, public address systems and accessibility features, including emergency help points and emergency door releases.
Across facilities at Auburn, Flemington and Cardiff, 55 eight-car Tangara trains will be refurbished over the next three years.
New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, said the project marked the beginning of rebuilding the state’s train manufacturing capability.
“The Hunter has a proud history of building the trains that kept New South Wales moving. Our job is to make sure it has the opportunity to do it again, and not just for one project, but for generations to come,” Minns said.
New South Wales Minister for Transport, John Graham, said the refurbishment program would help rebuild the region’s skilled rail manufacturing workforce.
“The Hunter has a rich history of building trains, and this refurbishment work is the perfect way to ramp up the workforce as we bring train manufacturing back where it belongs,” Graham said.
