Expertise and partnerships keep Downer Rail's expansion on track
Charging through Australia's sandy coastal plains, desert plateaus and rocky bush lands, trains have become more than simply an alternative mode of transport for the country. In fact, Australia's efficient railway system is seen as key to ensuring the country's economic future, and Downer has been instrumental in keeping this vision on track.
Charging through Australia's sandy coastal plains, desert plateaus and rocky bush lands, trains have become more than simply an alternative mode of transport for the country. In fact, Australia's efficient railway system is seen as key to ensuring the country's economic future, and Downer has been instrumental in keeping this vision on track.
Downer has more than 100 years' experience delivering total rail asset solutions for its customers, employing more than 1,400 people at approximately 20 key facilities across Australia. "Our heritage lies in building and maintaining trains," says Ross Spicer, Downer Rail's CEO. "We spend time searching the globe for the best products, best technology and best methodologies to come up with the best practices."
From manufacturing and designing freight cars, wagons, locomotives and passenger trains, Downer has built an expertise not just through its years of experience, but its industry knowledge and deep understanding of railway engineering.
Supplying approximately 60 per cent of Australia's active mainline locomotive fleet, Downer also operates Melbourne's tram network, which is the largest in the world.
Downer has formed strategic joint ventures with some of the world's leading technology and knowledge providers, and has radically developed global partnership practices over the past five years. These global partnerships, including Changchun Railway Vehicles, resulted in the manufacture of 78 passenger trains for New South Wales passengers, and produced the fastest production and schedule recovery in the history of rail manufacturing anywhere in the world.
Downer has also worked with Hitachi and Bombardier, and is looking to explore opportunities in other markets such as India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. It also seeks to partner with manufacturers who wish to enter Australia.
"Our business plan in five years is to double our revenue, but do that by putting the customer at the heart," Spicer says. "We are focusing on the customers, understanding them, and building meaningful partnerships with and for them."
http://www.downergroup.com
