NSW pledges $12 billion to revive Hunter train manufacturing

The New South Wales government announced a $12 billion investment over 15 years to re‑establish train manufacturing in the Hunter region. A new state‑owned facility will be built, with a long‑term rolling‑stock pipeline intended to replace the Tangara, Millennium, OSCAR and Waratah fleets and to secure a multi‑decade supply chain for local manufacturers.

The project is expected to create up to 780 construction jobs and about 550 permanent positions across the factory and its suppliers. Two sites are under consideration – the former Teralba coal mine and the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot, the historic home of the original Tangara fleet. Site selection will involve due‑diligence and consultation with stakeholders, including Glencore for the Teralba option.

Premier Chris Minns said, “We’re building a long‑term pipeline of work that gives industry the confidence to start investing in NSW, employing apprentices and growing local supply chains.” Newcastle’s Lord Mayor Gavin Morris called the funding “great news for Newcastle and the Hunter, delivering an economic and employment windfall that will be felt for decades.”