By CASEY NEILL
A TRAIN order boost could bolster jobs in Dandenong for years to come, industry insiders say.
The State Government announced on Tuesday 15 March that it would nearly double its high-capacity train order from 37 seven-carriage sets to 65.
Dandenong’s Bombardier Transportation is in the running to deliver the project, with Eureka Rail and Evolution Rail the competition and an announcement expected late this year.
Greater Dandenong Council’s business group manager Paul Kearsley said the announcement was a commitment to the local supply chains and would certainly assist in the transition from auto industry to other industries such as rail.
“We look forward to Bombardier being the successful tenderer at the end of the process,” he said.
“Council looks forward to participating in any way it can to assist Bombardier and the State Government to ensure manufacturing stays in Dandenong South and the region.”
Mr Kearsley said that Bombardier missing out on the contract was “not a matter that the region would really want to contemplate”.
“The facility at Bombardier is the only Australian-based true manufacturing assembling facility for trains,” he said.
“To lose that opportunity to expand its role within Victoria and Australia would be a really missed opportunity.
“Once you lose that facility, what you lose is all the skills.
“We would hope that the supply chain in the region would be able to assist either one of the two other parties.”
South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) executive officer Adrian Boden said the order was a “continuation of the long-term approach so needed by the manufacturing community”.
“Obviously it would be hugely important to the area if the contract was awarded to Bombardier and that the current workforce was not only maintained but increased over time, as well as the considerable flow-on effect to the supply base,” he said.
“The 50 per cent minimum local content is already well established within Bombardier and I am sure that, with the increased purchase commitment, it will be that much easier for Bombardier to improve on that level.
“We can only hope that other State Governments recognise the opportunity to purchase their transport needs in Australia and support and sustain our industries with long-term commitments.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said the new trains would start arriving in 2018 and immediately reduce congestion on the Cranbourne Pakenham line, Melbourne’s busiest.
They will be longer and able to carry more people with each trip.
