I did make the qualification in my post that, of the imported orders, some
have varying degrees of local "finishing" work in them. In NSW, like the
HCMT, this applies to the Waratah trains and the ferries. I've listed them
as imported because the substantial structural build has been overseas. As
you know, Downer has picked up most of the rump of the Australian train
manufacturing industry, including at Newcastle and Maryborough, and, like
the HCMT, has finished, to varying degrees, the NSW Waratahs and Queensland
NGRs locally. There's a pattern here - local company, body and running gear
fabrication overseas, completion works locally. (An unpleasant difference
in Victoria was that CRRC was brought in as partner rather than a
subcontractor, but hopefully that will pass into history.) I'm well aware
that the Vlocitys and Extraps are built locally, much credit in that. But
look at the relatively low volumes that have been produced (trams too),
that's my point.

Anyway, I hope that once catch-ups are complete, normal lifecycle rollovers
can be more localised. NSW is most of the way through its catchup, Victoria
is still in early stages and the cost of manufacture relative to available
budgets has a lot to do with that. When NSW can get its trams for half the
price of Victoria's, it does help moving forward much faster on getting the
fleet you need. (Leaving aside the issue of Melbourne getting proper trams
while in NSW we get joke 19th century tech!)

Tony P

On Thursday, 18 August 2022 at 13:53:32 UTC+10 Mal Rowe wrote:

> On 18/08/2022 13:10, TP wrote:

> > I suspect that Victoria with the HCMT and Queensland with the NGR

> > went overseas because they knew that there there was no way they could

> > get the product in the volume and timescale by sourcing locally - and

> > perhaps it was cost too.

>

> The HCMT in Victoria is around 60% local build.

>

> See:

>

> https://transport.vic.gov.au/our-transport-future/our-projects/high-capacity-metro-trains

>

>

> Shells arrive from China and are fitted with components manufactured in

> Victoria and overseas - not just in China.

>

> It's not a lot different to earlier times for trams when traction

> equipment was imported and local bodies fitted.

>

> Victoria has two active train/tram builders - Alstom (trading as

> Bombardier) and Downer.

>

> Unlike NSW, we do build rolling stock here!

>

> Mal Rowe

>

>