❓ The WA Government has allocated significant funding to establish a local rail car manufacturing industry, aiming for over 50% local manufacturing of METRONET railcars. Potential sites and export markets are under consideration, with a market sounding exercise underway to identify suitable suppliers.
AnsweredQoN 2104Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How much funding has been allocated to the development of WA's own rail car manufacturing capability? (2) Is it anticipated that this manufacturing industry will be building narrow gauge rail cars? (3) Have potential export markets been identified for these rail cars? (4) What is the expected demand for domestic rail cars on an annual basis? (5) Where does the Government anticipate this manufacturing facility will be located? (6) Have any individuals entities approached the Minister regarding potential sites for the rail car manufacturing industry, if so which individuals and/or entities? (7) Is it anticipated that privately owned land will be acquired to accommodate this new facility? (8) When is the estimated date that rail cars will begin being manufactured? (9) Will all Metronet rail cars be manufactured in Western Australia, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2017
Responded by
Minister for Transport; Planning; Lands
Response time
12 days
(1) $322.7 million has been allocated between 2017-2018 and 2020-2021 plus a further $185.5 million beyond the forward estimates to procure new Transperth railcars. This funding includes money to establish a WA railcar manufacturing strategy.
(2) Yes
(3) While the WA railcar manufacturing strategy will not be dependent on securing export markets, potential export markets for railcars built in WA will be a matter for determination once a WA railcar manufacturing facility is established.
(4) The annual demand for railcars for the State’s rail network is dependent on future Government planning and investment through METRONET.
(5) Potential sites are still under consideration for any government-supplied facility.
(6) Given that no electric railcar manufacturing has ever occurred in WA, the Public Transport Authority is undertaking a market sounding exercise of established railcar suppliers to determine the capacity and expertise of WA industry to contribute to railcar manufacturing in this State. An Expression of Interest and subsequent Request for Tender process will then be conducted to identify a railcar supplier that can deliver the best outcome desired by the Government. The Minister has met with established railcar suppliers, some of whom have existing manufacturing facilities. Manufacturers may opt during the procurement process to supply their own site.
(7) If there is a government-provided facility, land requirements will be subject to the final location chosen for the facility, which may or may not require private land.
(8) A definitive date is dependent on the process outline in 6) above.
(9) The Government continues to aim for more than 50 per cent of manufacturing of METRONET passenger railcars locally in Western Australia, a significant increase on the previous Liberal-National Government’s 2 per cent local railcar manufacturing capability.
(2) Yes
(3) While the WA railcar manufacturing strategy will not be dependent on securing export markets, potential export markets for railcars built in WA will be a matter for determination once a WA railcar manufacturing facility is established.
(4) The annual demand for railcars for the State’s rail network is dependent on future Government planning and investment through METRONET.
(5) Potential sites are still under consideration for any government-supplied facility.
(6) Given that no electric railcar manufacturing has ever occurred in WA, the Public Transport Authority is undertaking a market sounding exercise of established railcar suppliers to determine the capacity and expertise of WA industry to contribute to railcar manufacturing in this State. An Expression of Interest and subsequent Request for Tender process will then be conducted to identify a railcar supplier that can deliver the best outcome desired by the Government. The Minister has met with established railcar suppliers, some of whom have existing manufacturing facilities. Manufacturers may opt during the procurement process to supply their own site.
(7) If there is a government-provided facility, land requirements will be subject to the final location chosen for the facility, which may or may not require private land.
(8) A definitive date is dependent on the process outline in 6) above.
(9) The Government continues to aim for more than 50 per cent of manufacturing of METRONET passenger railcars locally in Western Australia, a significant increase on the previous Liberal-National Government’s 2 per cent local railcar manufacturing capability.
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