Hyundai Rotem Company (Korea) has awarded ABB a USD 150 million contract to supply complete traction packages, as well as engineering and service support for each of the 65 QTMP passenger trains to be delivered by the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) in Australia.
As part of the contract, which was awarded by Hyundai Rotem Company (Korea), ABB will also establish a Traction Center of Excellence to support with the production of the traction packages. Hyundai Rotem Company are a joint venture partner with Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd, the country’s leading provider of through-life asset management for passenger rollingstock.
Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd was awarded a contract by the Queensland Government to manufacture 65 new electric multiple units (EMUs), a type of train that has multiple carriages or cars, each with its own electric propulsion system.
In June 2023, the Queensland Government awarded Downer – Hyundai Rotem Company joint venture a AUD 4.6 billion (USD 3 billion) contract for the design and supply of 65 QTMP passenger trains with six cars.
All the new trains will be manufactured at the Torbanlea train manufacturing facility in Queensland. To help upskill the local Queensland workforce, two prototypes will be built by Hyundai in Korea to establish the manufacturing process. This will enable the transfer of technology and knowledge to our Queensland workforce.
All 65 of these advanced passenger trains are expected to be fully operational by 2032, in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
They will be deployed across the Southeast Queensland rail network, including the Cross River Rail, a new rail line in Brisbane. The QTMP will also support Queensland’s population and economic growth with investment in new manufacturing facilities and supporting more than 1,300 jobs in construction, manufacturing and operation over the life of the programme.
ABB’s traction converters use patented multilevel converter topology. This technology, in conjunction with semiconductor advancements, delivers the most efficient traction chain on the market. This offers reduced operating costs, a smaller environmental footprint, lower audible noise and reduced mechanical stress. To support the project, ABB is establishing a local Traction Center of Excellence, which will include a traction converter, traction motor and battery service center, in Maryborough, Queensland. With the transfer of production of traction converters and traction motors to Australia, ABB is not only creating new job opportunities, but is also helping to develop the local industry’s knowledge around traction systems which is one of the most complex sub-systems of trains.
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