Bombardier Transportation has announced a $361 million contract from the Queensland Government to deliver modifications to the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet.
Bombardier will coordinate with industry partner Downer EDI to undertake work to modify the NGR fleet in line with the state’s revised design specifications. The new contract covers design and delivery, as well as ongoing maintenance over the remaining term of the NGR public private partnership.
A recent inquiry found the $4.4 billion procurement of the NGR fleet was hamstrung by miscommunication and distrust between the state’s delivery agencies, which led to the approval of a design which was later found not to comply with disability standards.
This was despite the inquiry’s confirmation that Bombardier, the rollingstock lead in the delivery consortium, clearly outlining to the state no design could be made which complied to both the project guidelines, and the disability standards.
With the state now set on a set of rectification guidelines, Bombardier’s director for the NGR project Paul Brown said the company was proud to partner with the state to continue the fleet’s delivery.
“This variation order is an important request from our customer, and we will continue to work closely with them to deliver the NGR project in line with the enhanced specifications set out by the Queensland Government,” Brown said.
Bombardier’s new managing director in Australia, Wendy McMillan, said the NGR project was an important one for Queensland.
“With 70 per cent of Queensland’s future population growth targeted in the southeast region, the NGR fleet will bring a significant 26 per cent capacity increase to the South East Queensland rail network to meet the growing demand for rail services.”