First of 75 new Queensland EMUs arrives in Brisbane for commuter service

Bombardier Transportation has successfully delivered the first of 75 EMUs as part of the Queensland’s New Generation Rollingstock (QNGR) project. The vehicle arrived at the Port of Brisbane after travelling more than 10,500 km by road and sea in the past month from Bombardier’s manufacturing plant in Savli, India.

Paul Brown, Bombardier’s QNGR Project Director, said: “We are delighted to be unloading the first of Queensland’s New Generation Rollingstock (QNGR) trains here in Brisbane. It is a testament to Bombardier’s global capabilities to deliver rail products and services that meet the discerning demands of our customers. We are now looking forward to putting this train through Bombardier’s rigorous testing and commissioning program so that we can get it into service for South East Queensland passengers.”

75 Queensland EMUs delivered by 2018

Over the next three years 75 new trains will be rolled out across the South East Queensland passenger rail network, with the last expected in late 2018. The QNGR project, won by a Bombardier-led consortium in January 2014, includes the purchase of 75 new six-car trains, the construction of a new maintenance facility at Wulkuraka, west of Ipswich and a 30 year maintenance agreement for the new vehicles.

Image: Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads

The new trains will replace an ageing fleet and increase the overall size of the passenger train fleet in South East Queensland by 30 per cent.

Increase passenger train fleet by 30 percent

The six-car train, which weighs approximately 260 tonnes, was unloaded in a precision operation from the cargo vessel Matsumae overnight onto a truck and moved to the Brisbane port’s rail line. The cargo vessel arrived at the Port of Brisbane at 9pm on 15 February, with the first car unloaded at 2am the next day. The last of six cars were due to be unloaded by 16 February.

Over the coming days Bombardier’s technical specialists will connect the six-cars, making them ready for the locomotives that will haul the complete train to the new purpose-built Wulkuraka Maintenance Facility.

Maintenance Centre at Wulkuraka (Image: Queensland Government)

Commuters will be able to get on board the first new train when it begins services on the South East Queensland passenger rail network following testing in the second half of the year.