Train manufacturing jobs return to the Hunter

Almost 40 years after the iconic Tangara trains were first built in Newcastle, train manufacturing is coming home to the Hunter — and bringing jobs with it.

The Minns Labor Government has announced the establishment of two new production lines at the rail facility in Cardiff, as part of the $447 million Tangara Life Extension Program. The move will create around 100 new jobs and 20 apprenticeships in the region, marking a significant turnaround for an industry that was largely lost to the Hunter when the former Liberal-National Government ended passenger train manufacturing here in 2013.

The program aims to extend the life of 55 eight-carriage Tangara trains by more than a decade. Upgrades include replacing internal cladding and the computer operating system, installing more accessible emergency help points, emergency door release, passenger visual displays, and improvements to the passenger address system and CCTV.

The two new Cardiff production lines will join existing operations at Auburn and Flemington in Sydney, lifting the pace of train upgrades from 12 to 20 per year. That increased capacity means more modernised Tangaras will return to the network sooner. The Hunter jobs bring the total workforce on the program to 320, with 200 people — including apprentices — already working at the Sydney facilities.

Four Tangara trains are currently undergoing upgrades, with the first now on the network undertaking dynamic testing before re-entering regular service.

The investment is also forward-looking. It forms part of a broader Future Fleet Program, which will begin procurement of a new Tangara fleet by 2027, with a 50 per cent local manufacturing target. The skills developed through the life extension program are intended to help build that future workforce right here in NSW.

Transport Minister John Graham, who grew up in Newcastle during its train-building years, welcomed the announcement with a pointed nod to recent history. "I lived in Newcastle when it was a proud train-building city. We're now bringing train manufacturing jobs back to the Hunter, the home of the original Tangara fleet," he said. "The former government sent Hunter jobs offshore because they were obsessed with buying trains overseas. Anywhere but NSW, that was their policy on transport manufacturing jobs. This investment accelerates the life extension of our Tangara fleet while creating real jobs and skills development in the Hunter region."

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley emphasised what the announcement means for local families. "The people of Newcastle built these trains more than 35 years ago, and it's only right that the Hunter is once again at the heart of this work. We're truly a proud train manufacturing town," she said. "But this is about more than upgrading trains. It's about creating secure jobs, training apprentices and giving local families confidence that opportunity exists right here in our region. We're backing Hunter workers and making sure the skills and industries that built this region continue to thrive into the future."

Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison echoed the sentiment. "Almost 40 years after the Tangara trains were first built in Newcastle, it is fantastic to see this work returning to the Hunter. This is what rebuilding public transport capability in NSW looks like — more skilled jobs in the Hunter, more apprenticeships and more work being done here at home. After years of offshoring and neglect, we are rebuilding the workforce and capability NSW needs for the future," she said.

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing Courtney Houssos highlighted the broader economic flow-on effects. "This is a key step as we rebuild our domestic manufacturing capability and turn around 12 years of offshoring by the previous Liberal-National Government," she said. "We know that for every one job in manufacturing there are a further 3.5 in the supply chain, and that's why we want our procurement dollars creating jobs here in NSW."

Local member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, pointed to the program's community benefits beyond the factory floor. "The two lines to be added to this facility are also adding new jobs and apprenticeships, offering great opportunities for locals," she said. "There will be cost savings associated with the acceleration of the program of work, and by opening up these additional lines, the project will be finished sooner than previously forecast. That means the benefits of this initiative will be felt far beyond Wallsend."

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland described the scale of the undertaking. "The Tangara Life Extension Program is the most comprehensive refurbishment of its kind ever undertaken by Sydney Trains. Our teams in Sydney and soon, in the Hunter are carrying out critical system upgrades, modernising on-board technologies and improving safety and accessibility features to bring these trains in line with contemporary standards," he said.

For the Hunter, it's more than a maintenance program — it's a statement that the region's manufacturing legacy has a future