Back on track: Minns Government accelerates Regional Rail Fleet delivery after delays, billion-dollar cost blow outs and failed Liberal-National privatisation
ARAB NEWS ( SYDNEY -AUSTRALIA ) Following a damning assessment of the former Liberal-National Government by the NSW Auditor-General in October last year, the Minns Labor Government is today marking a major milestone in the delivery of the Regional Rail Fleet.
After inheriting a litany of delays, cost blow outs and ‘ineffective procurement’, the Minns Government has taken delivery of nine new trains, two of which are running on sections of the network as testing ramps up.
Across the state, keen train spotters have already seen some of the distinctive orange fleet on the tracks – a sight regional communities were promised years ago.
These trains were meant to be in service in 2023 but the former Liberal-National Government locked the project into a complex Public Private Partnership (PPP) which delayed delivery of the trains.
Since coming to office, the Minns Labor Government has dismantled the failed PPP and put Transport for NSW back in charge – contracting directly with CAF and UGL to get the fleet delivered and eliminating layers of private, offshore bureaucracy.
That reset has now put the fleet back on track, producing results and major savings for NSW taxpayers. Today, production rates are at optimal levels with the Minns Government more than tripling the rate of trains coming off the production line.
In real terms: all the long regional trains are manufactured, half of the short regional trains are manufactured, and production is underway on every remaining carriage.
This means, on average, one train is expected to arrive at Port Kembla every six to eight weeks – far from the Coalition’s reality of no trains at all.
Testing is also progressing with around 1,500 hours of dynamic testing completed. Two trains are undertaking intensive testing across electrified and non-electrified networks, trialling their bi-mode capability using both overhead electric and diesel power – an Australian first for passenger rail.
The full fleet of 29 trains will replace long-distance regional services operating across NSW and into the ACT, Victoria and Queensland, delivering improved comfort, accessibility and reliability for regional passengers – and improved tourism opportunities for more parts of regional NSW.
In parallel, the Government’s $40.3 million XPT life-extension program is progressing to ensure safe and reliable services continue while the new fleet completes testing and accreditation.
A service commencement timeline will be confirmed once testing is complete and safety accreditation is granted by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:
“For three years we have gone project by project fixing the mess we inherited, and Regional Rail is no exception.
“These trains should have been running by now and they aren’t because the former government’s offshore private model stalled delivery, delayed the project and left taxpayers with a massive bill.
“The Auditor-General exposed the cost of their approach: a combined $2.5 billion blow out in the cost of purchasing intercity and regional trains and years of delays.
“We have done the hard work to fix the project – dismantling the failed PPP, consulting with workforce and experts and restoring accountability.
“People can now see the distinctive orange fleet on the tracks across NSW.
“That visible progress is the result of steady, practical work to get this project back on track.
“The delay we inherited meant we also had to invest $40.3 million to extend the life of the ageing XPT fleet to keep services safe and reliable.
“We will always make sure regional passengers have safe, reliable and high-quality transport.
“We are rebuilding confidence in regional rail and delivering the fleet regional NSW deserves.
“We have taken some big steps forward to get this project back on track. As was always the case under the Coalition, regional communities were made promises that were never kept – whether it be tunnels, trains or everything in between.
“We are taking responsibility while the Liberals and Nationals outsourced manufacturing and sold off NSW at every corner.
“Under this Government, we actually have trains in NSW, and we are looking forward to sharing with the community when they will be able to jump on board.”