New apprentices for METRONET railcar program

Jul 20, 2023

The METRONET WA Railcar Program family has grown with three new apprentices joining the team following completion of the Alstom Aboriginal 10-week pre-employment program earlier this year.

Apprentices Leon Walley, Bradley Moore and Jesse Dingo were selected from 14 participants and have hit the ground running in their three-year apprenticeships, trying their hand at all railcar procedures on the workshop floor while also undertaking a four-year Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Fitting at TAFE.

Developed in collaboration with Alstom, the METRONET Gnarla Biddi team and North Metropolitan TAFE, the Aboriginal pre-employment program aims to connect young Aboriginal people to training and employment opportunities.

For the apprentices, it's not only an opportunity for skill and career development but also a chance to connect with community as role models for other young people looking for employment in the rail industry.

"I previously worked in retail, but this opportunity was hard to pass up as it appealed to my interest in mechanics and machinery," Walley said.

Moore, who also has a keen interest in mechanics, is excited about the practical components of the course and continuing his family's connection to the rail industry.

"I’m really looking forward to putting my learned skills into practice and I’m proud to be building the new C-series as both my mum and dad worked on the railway in Busselton," he said.

Family pride is also key for Dingo, who is excited to continue his apprenticeship to make his mum proud.

The WA Railcar Program will deliver 246 new C-series railcars to service new METRONET projects, replacing the older A-series trains, and six new diesel railcars to replace the existing Australind service between Perth and Bunbury.

In a first for public transport in Perth, railcars can now undertake their extensive testing regime in WA. Previous B-series railcars were manufactured and tested in Queensland and deployed directly onto our network.

In June 2021 the facility was completed to allow the first railcar to be built. With the additional completion of the High Voltage Testing Facility, all testing and commissioning can now occur in WA instead of using interstate and overseas suppliers.

The site is set to be expanded further with a new diesel maintenance facility, B-series maintenance facility, bogie and railcar wash facilities and railcar wheel lathe meaning manufacturing and maintaining railcars can continue in WA for years to come.