Overview
The new rail facility will cater for the expanding passenger train fleet. The 65 new 6-car QTMP trains will be maintained and stabled at the Ormeau rail facility which will include:
- acoustic-proofed workshops
- office facilities
- internal access roads
- internal train tracks
- a train wash
- stabling tracks with capacity to house a maximum of 20 trains at any given time.
The rail facility at Ormeau will operate 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, to support the maintenance and stabling of 65 new 6-car QTMP trains.
Workers will have access to on-site parking and office facilities, and all materials will be stored within the site boundaries.
During construction, heavy vehicles will use
a temporary access road that will connect
Prairie Road to the rail facility site. This will
help minimise traffic impacts on local roads.
Goldmine Road will continue to be used as
a site access for worker vehicles, and on
occasion, heavy vehicle delivery.
The project is committed to ensuring that the facility operates in an environmentally sustainable manner and includes initiatives such as solar panels, on-site water treatment, and rainwater re-use to reduce the project’s carbon footprint.
Site construction works are continuing at the Ormeau rail facility in 2024.
Consultation now closed
From 4 December 2023 and 2 March 2024, TMR invited the community to view the Ormeau rail facility concept design and provide feedback on the following:
- on-site landscaping
- urban design opportunities such as fencing and facade treatments
- managing and minimising community impacts.
The facility location, rail track design, and the site access point are out of scope for feedback, as they relate to site safety, security and productivity.
Initial feedback from the community has already influenced how the site is being managed, with a temporary access road connecting to Prairie Road currently under construction. The new access will help take heavy vehicle traffic off Goldmine Road.
TMR would like to thank those community members who participated in the consultation process.
Site layout plan
Proposed concept design layout of the Ormeau rail facility site.*
* Concept only – not final design.
Image shows the site layout plan of the Ormeau rail facility, which is located 44 kilometres south of Brisbane and 35 kilometres north of the Gold Coast. The site's western border extends down the existing rail line from Prairie Road in the north and Goldmine Road to the south. The Gold Coast Line for train operations runs along the western border of the site. Further east along Goldmine Road is the Ormeau Woods State School. The south-west border of the site is the Lewani Palms Resort, which is accessed from Lahrs Road/Goldmine Road.
The permanent rail facility access is off Goldmine Road, with internal roads connecting the access point to the facilities. The layout plan calls out to the maintenance facility including the administration office, 2 car parking areas, a train wash facility, staff facilities, and a stabling yard. The rail facility site connects to the Gold Coast Line with future rail line tracks at the northern and southern ends of the site.
The site layout plan design is concept only and is not to scale.
Artist's impressions
Aerial view of the rail facility site from the southern end.*
* Concept only – not final design.
Maintenance and administration building as viewed from site access road (looking north).*
* Concept only – not final design.
Managing operational impacts
Site access during operation
When operational, the facility will have up to 140 staff working daily across varying shift times.
The permanent access to the Ormeau rail facility will be via Goldmine Road. The rail facility will connect to Goldmine Road via a new private access road – this will be the permanent and only access to the rail facility site once the facility is operational. The design of the access is underway and will include measures to minimise the impact on Goldmine Road traffic. There will not be an access off Prairie Road during operations.
The majority of vehicles accessing the site during operations will be light vehicles. Heavy vehicles will access the site for deliveries on an as required basis. Deliveries would be done at a time that minimises the impact on Goldmine Road traffic.
Train movements
Trains will arrive and depart from the facility all day, with increased movements during standard AM and PM peak periods.
The train peaks align with the Queensland Rail passenger timetable, with the morning peak being 3am to 9am and the afternoon peak being between 2.30pm to 5pm.
During nights and weekends, workers and support staff at the rail facility will be required to ensure that noise does not exceed the approved operational limits.
Operational noise
Noise from the rail facility is anticipated to be minimal, due to its location and use of an acoustic shed. Most maintenance works will be undertaken in the shed. However, noise may be generated during some activities, including:
- grinding and welding
- reverse squawkers while plant is moving around site
- trains entering and exiting the maintenance facility and stabling yard
- vehicles entering and leaving the facility via Goldmine Road, primarily during the peak hours of shift starts and finishes
- some wheel squeal when trains move over curved section of the track
- trains sounding their horns as they move around the site - this is a safety requirement.
The project is required to undertake pre and post construction noise modelling, to ensure that the project is adhering to the Environmental Protection Act 1994. As part of this commitment, the project will undertake additional noise monitoring, once the site is operational, to ensure impacts to the local community are minimised.
Lighting
Lighting will be required around the clock to ensure worker safety and site security.
It is anticipated that lighting will be no brighter than what would be expected in a local park or community space at night. Lighting will be directed away from residential properties and shrouding will be provided, where appropriate.
Next steps
This feedback is now being reviewed and considered as part of the
design development process. Information about key feedback themes will be
provided in mid 2024, with information about the final design to be provided by
late 2024.
Go back to the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program consultation homepage.
