New Regional Trains
An artist's impression of the new regional rail fleet
ManufacturerCAF
Built atBeasain, Spain
Family nameCivity
Replaced
Constructed2020–
Entered service2025–2027 (scheduled)
Number under constructionTotal delivery of 117 carriages (19 3-car sets and 10 6-car sets)
Formation
  • Mc–M–M–M–M–Mc (6-car)
  • Mc–M–Mc (3-car)
OperatorsNSW TrainLink
DepotsMindyarra Maintenance Centre
Specifications
Train length
  • 146.16 m (479 ft 6+5⁄16 in) (6-car sets)
  • 73.92 m (242 ft 6+1⁄4 in) (3-car sets)[1]
Car length
  • 24.92 m (81 ft 9+1⁄8 in) (end cars)
  • 24.08 m (79 ft 1⁄16 in) (intermediate cars)[1]
Wheel diameter850–780 mm (33–31 in)[2]
Maximum speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Traction motors12–24 × TSA TME 46-23-4 210 kW (280 hp)[3]
Transmission4.365 : 1 gear ratio (2-stage reduction)[2]
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary (electrified sections only)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′(+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
[1]

The NSW TrainLink Regional Train Project is an initiative of Transport for NSW to procure new bi-mode CAF Civity trains to replace NSW TrainLink's Endeavour, Xplorer and XPT fleets.

History

In the lead up to the 2015 state election, the Baird Government committed itself, if re-elected, to replacing the XPT fleet (19 power cars and 60 carriages).[4][5] Having been returned to office, in October 2016, the government announced it was also considering replacing the Xplorer (23 carriages) and Endeavour (28 carriages) diesel multiple unit fleets.[6][7][8]

In August 2017, the government announced it had decided to proceed with the replacement of all three fleets.[9] In November 2017, three consortia, led by Bombardier, CAF and Downer, were shortlisted for the contract to build the trains.[10] In May 2018, the Bombardier Consortium withdrew from the process.[11]

A contract was signed in February 2019 with Momentum Trains, a consortium of CAF, DIF Infrastructure and Pacific Partnerships.[12] The order will comprise 117 bi-mode Civity carriages which will make up a total of 29 trains:[13][14]

All trains will be maintained at the new Mindyarra Maintenance Centre to be built in Dubbo.[15][16]

As of 23 November 2023 there was no delivery date on the Project website.[17] An article in The Sydney Morning Herald on 26 December 2022 claimed that there was a 35-month delay in the project because the state transport agency had demanded design changes to the carriages.[18]

The first complete 6 car unit arrived into Australia at Port Kembla on 14th Feb 2024. The complete train set has been road hauled to the Dubbo Maintenance Centre for initial testing.[19]

All 117 carriages are expected to arrive in Australia by the end of 2024.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Civity regional trains for Transport For NSW". CAF. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b "cat tecnico GEARBOXES 2-7" (PDF). CAF MiiRA. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  3. ^ "CAF Civity DEMU for New South Wales". Traktionssysteme Austria. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. ^ $1 billion overhaul to cut train travel times for XPT Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Border Mail 16 March 2015
  5. ^ Coalition promises new trains will replace XPT Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Examiner 17 March 2015
  6. ^ New country train program accelerated Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for New South Wales 28 October 2016
  7. ^ New South Wales brings forward XPT replacement Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine International Railway Journal 28 October 2016
  8. ^ NSW fleet replacement accelerated Archived 24 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 31 October 2016
  9. ^ NSW regional train fleet to be replaced Archived 19 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 15 August 2017
  10. ^ "Another Milestone for Regional Rail Project". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Transport for NSW. 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Regional Rail Project Overview" (PDF). www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  12. ^ "CAF to replace New South Wales regional train fleet". Railway Gazette International. 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Regional Rail". Transport for NSW. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Regional Rail Project - Regional Rail fleet: Frequently asked questions July 2021" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  15. ^ NSW Region train fleet on track Archived 15 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for New South Wales 14 August 2017
  16. ^ NSW seeks private finance for regional fleet Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine International Railway Journal 15 August 2017
  17. ^ "Regional Rail". 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  18. ^ Rabe, Tom; O'Sullivan, Matt (26 December 2022). "Dispute over design changes to new train fleet in deadlock". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  19. ^ Transport for NSW (23 February 2024). "Regional Rail". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 March 2024.

External links

New South Wales Rail rolling stock
Categories