Hunter Region to Gain Train Manufacturing Jobs Through Tangara Upgrade Program
An investment by the New South Wales Government will re-establish train manufacturing work in the Hunter region, creating around 100 new jobs and 20 apprenticeships as part of the Tangara Life Extension program. The initiative expands refurbishment capacity for Sydney’s ageing Tangara fleet, with work returning to a region that originally built the trains more than three decades ago. The program is intended to improve rail reliability, strengthen local manufacturing capability and accelerate the pace of fleet upgrades across the network.
The announcement was made through an official NSW Government release, outlining a A$447 million investment to extend the life of 55 eight-carriage Tangara trains by more than a decade. The work will be delivered through new production lines in the Hunter, complementing existing facilities at Auburn and Flemington.
Expanding refurbishment capacity for an ageing fleet
The Tangara Life Extension program focuses on comprehensive mid-life upgrades to some of the oldest rolling stock in the Sydney Trains network. Refurbishment works include replacing internal cladding, updating computer operating systems, installing more accessible emergency help points and emergency door releases, and upgrading passenger information displays, public address systems and CCTV.
By adding two new production lines in the Hunter, overall upgrade capacity will increase from 12 trains per year to 20. This is expected to bring refurbished trains back into service more quickly, helping to reduce maintenance-related faults and improve day-to-day reliability.
Jobs, apprenticeships and local skills development
The additional roles in the Hunter will bring total employment on the Tangara Life Extension program to around 320 people. Approximately 200 workers, including apprentices, are already employed at the Auburn and Flemington sites. The government has positioned the expansion as part of a broader effort to rebuild domestic manufacturing skills and supply chains.
This emphasis on workforce development aligns with wider public-sector initiatives to strengthen advanced manufacturing capability, similar to efforts seen in other states to build future-ready skills bases, such as programmes supporting AI and advanced manufacturing skills in Victoria.
Preparing for future fleet procurement
The life extension program is also intended to support longer-term fleet planning. Skills developed through the refurbishment work are expected to contribute to the construction of a new Tangara fleet in New South Wales, with procurement scheduled to begin by 2027 under the Future Fleet Program. The government has stated that the program will aim to meet a 50 per cent local manufacturing target.
Four Tangara trains are currently undergoing upgrades, with the first refurbished train now back on the network undertaking dynamic testing before re-entering passenger service. The work forms part of the government’s response to recommendations from the Independent Rail Review, which highlighted the need to improve reliability across the rail system.
Industry and government perspectives
“The Tangara Life Extension Program is the most comprehensive refurbishment of its kind ever undertaken by Sydney Trains.” — Matt Longland, Chief Executive, Sydney Trains
Government ministers have framed the return of train manufacturing to the Hunter as both an economic and strategic decision, aimed at reversing years of offshore procurement and rebuilding local capability. The focus on domestic production mirrors broader transport infrastructure efforts to improve safety, resilience and performance across Australia’s networks, including investments in technology-led transport safety initiatives.
