A new facility is being constructed in the Fraser Coast region, to manufacture the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program fleet.

Heavy vehicles are using the Bruce Highway entrance to enter and exit site. Light vehicles will continue to use Ritchie Road.

For the safety of all road users, the speed limit on the Bruce Highway adjacent to the train manufacturing facility site will be reduced to 80km/h between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Sunday (and at night, as required) for approximately 18 months during the construction period. The changed traffic conditions will be in place during work hours. The speed limit will be 100km/h outside of these work hours.

We invited community feedback on the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility concept design between 4 December 2023 and 2 March 2024.

Manufacturing and administration building viewed from the east.*

* Concept only – not final design.

Manufacturing and administration building viewed from the south.*

* Concept only – not final design.

Manufacturing facility operations

To support the manufacturing of the 65 six-car trains in Torbanlea, the facility will operate up to 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. This operational schedule enables the efficient completion of works on the train bodies, as well as undertaking safety testing on the internal commissioning track.

When the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility is operational, it is anticipated that there will be up to 300 staff working on the site daily. Staff will be a mixture of manufacturing workers, office staff and test drivers. This is in addition to construction jobs that will be created in building the facility.

Staff will be working on a shift roster and will enter and exit site at varying times throughout the day and night. Where possible, deliveries will be made during normal work hours.

Operational noise

Operational noise from the manufacturing facility is anticipated to be minimal, due to its location and use of an acoustic shed. The majority of 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 moving along the internal commissioning track and onto the main train network
• vehicles entering and leaving the facility via Ritchie 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 at the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility, 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.

Sustainability

The project is committed to ensuring 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.

The community was invited to view the concept design and provide feedback on:

• 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 were out of scope for feedback, as they related to site safety, security and productivity.

Key feedback themes we heard, include:

• support for the train manufacturing facility
• interest in jobs and supplier opportunities
• request for offset planting
• request for flora exclusion fencing.

TMR would like to thank those community members who participated in the consultation process.

This feedback is now being reviewed and considered as part of the design. More information about the final design will be provided in 2025.

Go back to the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program consultation homepage.