Regional Rail project powers ahead

The first slab of concrete has been poured for the Regional Rail Maintenance Facility at Dubbo to service a modern, new rail fleet for the bush.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said this was a significant milestone for the NSW Government’s $2.8 billion Regional Rail Project which will replace NSW TrainLink’s ageing XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains with 29 new trains that will be tested, maintained and serviced in Dubbo.

“This new facility will provide around 200 jobs during construction with 50 permanent jobs once the trains are in service,” Mr Toole said.

“This is why we have committed $43 million in the 2020-21 budget and $1.3 billion over four years to progress the building of the maintenance facility and delivery of the new regional rail fleet which will mark a new era for regional rail travel in NSW.

“Later this month Momentum Trains, the train manufacturer, will be taking customers through a life size model of the train in Bathurst to allow customer groups and staff the opportunity to provide feedback on factors such as passenger boarding and alighting, wheelchair access, accessible toilets and bike storage.

“This collaborative approach will enable the design to reflect the needs of a broad range of customers to ensure they have a safe, accessible and reliable service when the trains hit the tracks progressively from 2023.”

Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders joined Minister Toole at the concrete pour and welcomed the news that construction at the maintenance facility – which has been officially named Mindyarra – had now commenced.

“This new facility will play a major role in boosting employment and the local Dubbo economy as we recover from COVID-19,” Mr Saunders said.

“I’m also proud that we are the first Transport maintenance centre in the state to give the facility an indigenous name.

“The word Mindyarra is a Wiradjuri word, meaning to fix or repair. It was chosen to represent the work that will occur at the maintenance facility, and the work we are doing to create a future of healing with the Traditional Owners of the land on which the facility is located.

“We have been working very closely with the project’s Aboriginal Working Group to ensure Aboriginal participation in the project.”

For more information about the Regional Rail Project visit: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/regional-rail

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