Regional Rail - Mindyarra Maintenance Centre

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As part of the Regional Rail project, the NSW Government is constructing a purpose-built maintenance facility in Dubbo, that will service the new Regional Rail fleet.

Project overview

The NSW Government is replacing the ageing NSW regional rail fleet of XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains, and constructing a purpose-built maintenance facility in Dubbo, named ‘Mindyarra’ that will support the new Regional Rail fleet and stimulate the regional economy.

With an estimated 200 jobs required during construction and 50 ongoing roles during maintenance, the project provides opportunities for long term employment and skills development.

Major work to build the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre in Dubbo has been completed, with some minor  work to continue in early 2024, including installation of key equipment, building fit-out and landscaping. 

Standard construction hours

Standard construction hours are:

  • 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday
  • 8am to 1pm Saturday.

 

Out of hours work 

Some construction activities have been scheduled to take place outside standard working hours, from 7am to 6pm on Saturdays and 8am to 6pm on Sundays.

This work is not expected to be noisy or disruptive.

Layout of the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre in Dubbo

Community notifications

 

Mindyarra’s sustainable design and construction

We are adopting several initiatives to make construction more sustainable to minimise impacts on the environment. Check out the videos below, to learn more about some of the sustainability initiatives at Mindyarra Maintenance Centre.

Transport for NSW and Momentum Train have worked collaboratively to ensure that the design and construction of the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre minimises environmental impacts and emissions, contributing to the NSW Government’s long-term target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and maximising social and economic benefits to communities.

We are pleased to announce that Mindyarra has been awarded a 'Leading' design rating by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council.

This is the highest possible rating in the scheme, which evaluates a project’s economic, social and environmental performance across the design phase.

Mindyarra Maintenance Centre will:

  • Generate at least 95% of its low voltage power needs from around 3400 onsite solar panels
  • Use around 9,000m³ of carbon-neutral concrete to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 5,000 tonnes
  • Use captured rainwater, bore water and recycled water wherever possible.

Check out our Mindyarra Sustainability fact sheet (PDF, 1.43 MB) to learn more about the great results that we have seen so far and our aims for the future.

Naming the maintenance centre 

The Regional Rail Project established an Aboriginal Working Group for advice and support on achieving Aboriginal participation outcomes.

Transport for NSW and the Aboriginal Working Group collaborated with over 19 Aboriginal groups from various Nations to deliver the name ‘Mindyarra Maintenance Centre’.

Mindyarra - pronounced Min-Dga-Rra - is a Wiradjuri word, meaning ‘to fix or repair’. It represents the literal work that will occur at the new maintenance centre and Transport for NSW’s continued efforts to support reconciliation.

Jobs, Skills and Industry Participation

Creating opportunities for Jobs, Skills and Industry Participation (JSIP) in regional NSW is a priority for the Regional Rail Project. This is delivered by the creation of working groups using a cross-government, collaborative approach to support areas of focus.

The three main areas of focus for the JSIP initiative are:

  • Regional jobs - valuing diversity
  • Developing regional skills
  • Opportunities for regional NSW businesses. 

The Regional Rail Project is committed to delivering sustainable regional jobs, comprising of a diverse workforce.  This includes Aboriginal participation, women in non-traditional trades and young people under 25 years of age.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre?

We are replacing the ageing NSW regional rail fleet of XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains. To support the new fleet, a new purpose-built maintenance centre, named Mindyarra Maintenance Centre, is being constructed in Dubbo.

The Mindyarra Maintenance Centre will support the regional economy, create employment opportunities, and develop the skills of people in regional NSW.

What does ‘Mindyarra’ mean?

We collaborated with local Aboriginal organisations and representatives, as well as our Aboriginal Working Group, to name the new maintenance centre ‘Mindyarra’.

‘Mindyarra’ is a Wiradjuri word, meaning ‘to fix or repair’. Pronounced ‘Min-dga-rra’, It was chosen to represent the literal work that will occur at the new maintenance centre and the work that we are doing to support reconciliation.

Mindyarra is the first maintenance centre on the Transport for NSW network to use an Aboriginal word for its name.

Budget

How much will the project cost?

The total budget for the project is $2.8 billion. This includes a capital cost of $1.26 billion for the new fleet, the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre, some minor network enabling works and project costs, as well as costs associated with maintenance services for 15 years.

Construction

When will construction start and finish?

Major construction of the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre began in 2020 and major work to build the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre in Dubbo has been completed, with some minor work to continue in early 2024, including installation of key equipment, building fit-out and landscaping.

What are the construction working hours?

The majority of work at the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre site will take place during standard construction hours:

  • Monday to Friday, 7am-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm.

Some work may need to happen outside of standard construction hours, and we will inform the local community and businesses before these activities take place.

Will any changes be made to the existing rail track at the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre?

The current track between Wheelers Lane level crossing in the East to Fitzroy Street level crossing in the West, has been realigned on the Northern (White Street) side of the project site so that the new Regional Rail fleet can access the centre for service and maintenance. 

Regional Development – Jobs, Skills and Industry Participation 

How will Mindyarra benefit regional NSW?

Mindyarra will create sustainable employment, opportunities for skills development and business opportunities for those in regional NSW during construction and operation.

The project will generate around 200 jobs during peak construction and 50 ongoing jobs during operations, including traineeships and apprenticeships.

We also have an advisory group which provides expertise and resources to help find opportunities, coordinate workforce planning, and address regional skills shortages.

The group is made up of government partners, Momentum Trains and key suppliers.

Are there opportunities for the Dubbo Aboriginal community to be involved?

We are committed to supporting Aboriginal participation in the Regional Rail Project. Momentum Trains is required to create employment and apprenticeship opportunities for Aboriginal people and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses.

We have established an Aboriginal Working Group to provide advice and support on achieving Aboriginal participation outcomes.

The Aboriginal Working Group members represent key government organisations, and have connections to Aboriginal community groups in and around Dubbo. ​​​​​​

 Environment and Technology

How will the Mindyarra Maintenance Centre be powered?

Mindyarra will generate at least 95% of its low voltage power needs from onsite Solar PV panels and install onsite batteries to power the maintenance centre from solar at night.

Using solar energy supports Transport for NSW’s commitment to a more sustainable future, working steadily to meet the the NSW Government’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

What does it mean to use carbon-neutral concrete instead of standard materials? 

Around 9,000m³ of carbon-neutral concrete will be used at Mindyarra, reducing and offsetting carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by up to 5,000 tonnes.

To achieve this reduction in carbon emissions, the supplier replaces some of the standard cement used in concrete with industrial by-products like fly ash, blast furnace slag or silica fume to reduce carbon intensity.

To reduce net carbon emissions to zero, any remaining embodied carbon is offset. The carbon-neutral concrete is certified via the Australian Government’s Climate Active program, and is being produced locally from sands and materials sourced from businesses in the Dubbo area.

This is a significant step in the use of materials that reduce our environmental footprint during construction. 

Using this innovative concrete is equivalent to taking over 920 cars off the road for a year, or the total energy usage of over 700 Australian homes for all heating, cooling, cooking and lighting for a year.

Project related documents

Planning documents

More information

For more information please call 1800 684 490, or email projects@transport.nsw.gov.au.

For urgent enquires or complaints regarding construction activities, please call our 24-hour line on 1800 775 465

Businesses and suppliers interested in procurement opportunities available on the Regional Rail Project, please visit ICN to view project-related work packages or to submit an expression of interest.

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