NSW Trains CAF Civity XPT replacement

[railfan99]

Sounds like you could have just done with scaled down Siemens Chargers, with a version of Viaggio/Venture carriages if they wished to push the boat out. I dread to think what a CAF unit will be like with your legendarily rough PWay!

The Sydney-Melbourne rail line is by and large good track quality given the maximum permitted speed of roughly 120 to 160kmh (latter not often), as is Sydney-Brisbane. It's the steam age constant curvature on the former (especially Goulburn to Cootamundra) and on the latter Maitland to almost Grafton City that's more the problem, as XPT drivers have to at times take the curves fairly hard to keep to schedule.

ARTC spent A$235 million fixing mudholes and other problems in recent times between just out of Melbourne and the Victorian/NSW border at Wodonga, a little more than 300 rail kilometres from the Victorian capital.

Between Albury (NSW twin city with Wodonga, total population 90000) and Sydney NSW, track quality is good save for one rough spot noted near Henty (look it up on Google).

In UK five months ago, I asked a couple of rail employees about CAF and they replied that the company's recent trains were obtaining a reputation for rough riding, a la 'Caledonian Sleeper' not giving me as good a sleep as older rollingstock on 'Night Riviera'.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Seems a lot just to avoid the bus to Melbourne Airpot.

Don't worry we are getting a 7 car electric train to the airport soon.

It is recommended that overnight XPT journeys be in a sleeper; otherwise do not go.

The cost of the Skybus from Melbourne airport is expensive. there is a regular bus service available. Route901 with normal fares. Take this to Broadmeadows suburban station and change to the suburban train. It will save a lot of money.

The downside of that is you have to venture into Broadmeadows.

 

[Tester]

The downside of that is you have to venture into Broadmeadows.

To be fair, not 'into'!

The bus stop is immediately outside the station, with no steps from either platform and no roads to cross - about as convenient an interchange as you could wish for.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Anticipating a trip to Melbourne later in the year and the advice above, I came across this nugget of information about the 901 bus route from the airport to Broadmeadows station (my bold):

901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service) - Public Transport Victoria

Information for 901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service)

www.ptv.vic.gov.au

SmartBus Route 901 is being diverted away from the shopping centre and train station after 7pm on Friday and Saturday nights (due to rock throwing in the Roxburgh Park area).

 

[Tester]

Anticipating a trip to Melbourne later in the year and the advice above, I came across this nugget of information about the 901 bus route from the airport to Broadmeadows station (my bold):

901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service) - Public Transport Victoria

Information for 901 Frankston - Melbourne Airport (SMARTBUS Service)

www.ptv.vic.gov.au

Roxburgh Park is the other side of Broadmeadows from the airport, so you should be ok

Then again, if you fancy an adventure you can take the 901 all the way from the Airport to Frankston - a 4h15 tour around Melbourne's suburbs for $3.10 (£1.77)!

It runs every 15 minutes during the day.

 

[railfan99]

Then again, if you fancy an adventure you can take the 901 all the way from the Airport to Frankston - a 4h15 tour around Melbourne's suburbs for $3.10 (£1.77)!

Sorry to disappoint but fare for a 'two-hour trip' (based only on touch on times) is A$4.60 using (compulsory smartcard) myki. We also have inflation in what you call the Antipodes.

 

[Tester]

Sorry to disappoint but fare for a 'two-hour trip' (based only on touch on times) is A$4.60 using (compulsory smartcard) myki. We also have inflation in what you call the Antipodes.

Hehehe the 901 runs entirely in Zone 2 - hence $3.10 at the current tariff

 

[railfan99]

Hehehe the 901 runs entirely in Zone 2 - hence $3.10 at the current tariff

Sorry, my mistake. But on weekends during the day, it's every half an hour not 15 minutes.

 

[ainsworth74]

Thread re-opened for @HamBuoy to post an update.

 

[HamBuoy]

Thread re-opened for @HamBuoy to post an update.

Thank you.

This video on Dailymotion shows the new trains. Not sure what to make of the overhead luggage bins and the mid window mullions for the blinds…

Dailymotion

dai.ly

There have also been more updates on the government’s project page https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/regional-rail

This includes more information on the bimode technology https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sy.../Bi-mode fact sheet September 2024 - WCAG.pdf

 

[Richard Scott]

Thank you.

This video on Dailymotion shows the new trains. Not sure what to make of the overhead luggage bins and the mid window mullions for the blinds…

Dailymotion

dai.ly

There have also been more updates on the government’s project page https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/regional-rail

This includes more information on the bimode technology https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2024/Bi-mode fact sheet September 2024 - WCAG.pdf

Sorry, being a bit lazy in not reading articles thoroughly but does it say when they're expected to enter service?

 

[geoffk]

Are the electrified networks in Sydney and Melbourne not compatible - only NSW is mentioned. Or perhaps the standard gauge line going into Melbourne is not wired at all.

 

[popeter45]

Are the electrified networks in Sydney and Melbourne not compatible - only NSW is mentioned. Or perhaps the standard gauge line going into Melbourne is not wired at all.

looking at openrailwaymap seems not

 

[HamBuoy]

Sorry, being a bit lazy in not reading articles thoroughly but does it say when they're expected to enter service?

Not really.

When will the trains be in service?​

The extensive process includes testing of mechanical, electrical and technology systems, and their interfaces with the rail network, such as overhead wiring, signalling, and track infrastructure. 
Once they have progressed through testing and the relevant verifications on the NSW and Australian rail network, we will be able to provide timeline for their entry into service.  

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Oct 2024 ==

here is a video of the trains being moved.

 

[Tester]

Are the electrified networks in Sydney and Melbourne not compatible - only NSW is mentioned. Or perhaps the standard gauge line going into Melbourne is not wired at all.

This is correct - the electrification system for both states is 1,500V DC, but there is no standard gauge electrification in Victoria.

 

[williamn]

Having had ‘battles’ with the person in front over the blind on Azumas the mullions seem like a good idea.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looks like the scenic Sydney-Kiama-Bomaderry service along the coastal Illawarra Line will use the new CAF regional bi-modes.
Currently the wired Sydney-Kiama section is run with standard Sydney Trains EMUs, while the unwired extension to Bomaderry uses an Endeavour DMU shuttle.

 

[Richard Scott]

Not really.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Oct 2024 ==

here is a video of the trains being moved.

Thank you.

 

[railfan99]

Sorry, being a bit lazy in not reading articles thoroughly but does it say when they're expected to enter service?

2026, due apparently to extensive testing required.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Are the electrified networks in Sydney and Melbourne not compatible - only NSW is mentioned. Or perhaps the standard gauge line going into Melbourne is not wired at all.

The SG isn't. It stays on it's own separate tracks from Seymour all the way to Melbourne. Melbourne's electrification while being 1500v DC is only over BG tracks.

Until 2014 the SG line ran under wires for 100m over Dudley Street on the gauntlet track.

 

[gordonthemoron]

For a Civity, they look reasonable inside and out, despite the overhead bins

 

[SLTRegular]

There's one outside Auburn Maintenance Centre. Must be the ugliest looking livery in Australia from the side and that includes the aboriginal liveries on the Indian built trains in Queensland

The White doors just look hideous on the units.

 

[jedimasterc]

Is sleeper not popular? If it is, it seems a bit strange that they'd downgrade the service and potentially reduce income as a result.

An overnight journey in a seat in a rattly DMU isn't an appealing prospect! The airlines must be happy.

There are only 9 sleeper cabins per train and so going to a more airline style seat with 2+1 seating will allow more passengers. It may be Rattly but not because it is a DMU since it is actually a DEMU and most problems on a DMU with vibrations is due to the voith transmission.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It may be Rattly but not because it is a DMU since it is actually a DEMU and most problems on a DMU with vibrations is due to the voith transmission.

Anyone who has ever used a Voyager knows that that is simply false. Vibrations are caused primarily by the engine, same as in a car.

 

[jedimasterc]

Looks like the scenic Sydney-Kiama-Bomaderry service along the coastal Illawarra Line will use the new CAF regional bi-modes.
Currently the wired Sydney-Kiama section is run with standard Sydney Trains EMUs, while the unwired extension to Bomaderry uses an Endeavour DMU shuttle.

It will stay the same even with the new CAF trains. It will still be DD electric to Kiama and then a shuttle from Kiama to Bomaderry.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Oct 2024 ==

Anyone who has ever used a Voyager knows that that is simply false. Vibrations are caused primarily by the engine, same as in a car.

Maybe then it is the Cummins qsk19 power unit. These CAF's have an MTU power unit and so we will have to wait and see if this is the case or not then.

 

[43096]

Maybe then it is the Cummins qsk19 power unit. These CAF's have an MTU power unit and so we will have to wait and see if this is the case or not then.

No, it is the case with any DMU.

 

[popeter45]

rather than keep sleepers on intercity services, sleepers should really be spun off as a dedicated service with 4-5 sleeper carriages per set

 

[43096]

rather than keep sleepers on intercity services, sleepers should really be spun off as a dedicated service with 4-5 sleeper carriages

Which would kill the service off. The advantage of the current setup is that the trains can be used for day and night trains. Eg the morning Sydney to Melbourne train then forms the overnight return. If you needed separate trains for day and overnight you’d need four trains to resource four single journeys - that’s incredibly inefficient and costly.

 

[SLTRegular]

Same train is still outside Auburn has it done any day or night testing yet?

 

[Robson]

A NSW Trainlink CAF 6-car R set was under test last night Wednesday 12th Thursday 13th March between Denistone and Epping. The diesel loco used to haul the R Set to the possession area was 42 year old Alco 8049 owner by SSR.

Attached are a few pics I took. Enjoy. Rob.

p.s. A video of the testing last Wednesday has been posted on Youtube by "Jenper's Train Videos". There is a side-on walk past of all 6 cars taken from the adjoining platform, starting at 22m50sec.