<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> With two bidders still in the running to snag the contract for 75 six-car trains for Queenslandâs public transport system â Bombardier and a consortium including Mitsubishi â the Queensland Government has announced that its rollingstock program will be funded through an âavailability paymentâ PPP. </span> <p>The New Generation Rollingstock project is a new way for government to order trains by taking a partnership approach with the private sector to design, build, provide ongoing maintenance and financing, Queensland minister for transport and main roads Scott Emerson said.</p><p>“Proponents will seek financing from the private sector rather than government fully funding the project – the same model used successfully for the Gold Coast Rapid Transit and Sunshine Coast University Hospital projects,” Emerson said.</p><p>“We are currently in the final bidding phase with the two committed proponents Bombardier Transportation Australia and AdvanceRail – a consortium comprising Mitsubishi Corporation and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) – to award the contract.</p><p>“Our focus is on value for money and we are looking for innovation from both bids.”</p><p>The contract, expected to be awarded later this year with delivery of the new trains to start about two years later, includes maintenance of the trains for a period of around 30 years, as well as construction and maintenance of a modern, purpose built maintenance centre at Wulkuraka in Ipswich.</p><p>Emerson said the project is the largest ever single investment by Queensland in trains. He said such an investment is being made to meet the growing demand for rail services in south east Queensland.</p><p>While Emerson’s department will deliver the project, Projects Queensland is responsible for commercial and project management, and Queensland Rail is providing technical input to help with the new trains’ integration into the existing network.</p><p>Australian Rail Association CEO Bryan Nye said the association supports the purchase of new rollingstock, but does not currently have a solid position on the use of PPP financing.</p><p>“Regarding the methods of procurement,” Nye said, “it is worth noting that the ARA has commissioned a study into potential standardisation of the specifications of new rollingstock purchases, the outcomes of which will be known in late 2013.”</p>
