| Hunter Railcar | |
|---|---|
 Hunter railcar 2754 arrives at Victoria Street station  Inside a Hunter railcar at Maitland |
|
| In service | 2007 - present |
| Manufacturer | United Goninan |
| Number built | 7 |
| Formation | 2 car |
| Capacity | 71 + 69 (in lavatory car) |
| Operator | RailCorp as the product group CityRail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 25.250 metres |
| Width | 2.93 metres |
| Height | 4.24 meters |
| Maximum speed | 145km/h |
| Weight | 61 tonnes |
| Engine(s) | Cummins QSK19 |
| Transmission | Voith T312 bre |
| Gauge | 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
Hunter Railcars are a diesel multiple unit operated by CityRail on its Hunter Valley line centred on Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, although in rare cases of rail car shortages, they have been sent to other diesel lines, like the Southern Highlands Line. The Railcars were built by United Goninan and were brought into service between November 2006 and September 2007.[1] They replaced the 620 & 720 railcars, built in the 1960s.
Contents |
Features
The design of the Hunter Railcars is derived from the new generation Transwa Prospector - the major difference being the driving cars are each single-engined instead of dual-engined, due to the lower top speed requirement for the Hunter line. Seating is along one deck, 3x2, and the seats have retractable footrests. There is a large cab window for crew to look out onto the tracks, and all controls are ready at hand. A door is placed between the vestibule and the seating area, to reduce interior noise. Security cameras record what is happening inside the train, and there is a display in the crew’s cabin. The cars have been fitted with “Dellner SP” couplers, compatible with the OSCAR and Millennium Train’s couplings for emergency towing. They are able to absorb the impact of a collision, and the anti-climbers on the new Hunter Railcars will also reduce the force of impact. This new feature appears on the Millennium Trains, the Hunter Railcars and the OSCARs. The new trains also have a different body design. Instead of the entire body being of the same design, such as the Tangara, the driver's cab is built like a protective cage, made of fibreglass, which stretches to the end of the guard's door. The stainless steel panelling starts at the guard's door. The guard's door is designed to operate separately from the passenger doors. The Hunter Railcar has multiple-unit capability with the earlier Endeavour and Xplorer DMUs, however this feature is generally only used in the event of failure or for empty coaching stock movements. These cars normally operate as a two-car set like the Endeavours but however on special events on that line it will operate as 4 car sets (two 2-car sets joined together).
Delivery
The order was for 14 cars:
- 7 Driving Power Cars - HM 2701-2707
- 7 Driving Power Cars with Toilet - HMT 2751-2757
The Power Cars have accommodation for 76 passengers, and the Power Cars with Toilets have accommodation for 60 passengers.
Like the OSCARs, the Railcars were delivered late. The first 2 car set entered service on the Hunter Line on 23 November 2006, operating a small number of Newcastle to Telarah services on Thursday and Fridays only. The second set entered service on 8 January 2007 also operating a limited number of services. As of September 2007 all seven trains have been delivered.[1]
Criticism
The Liberal candidate for the Maitland electorate for the State election in March 2007 stated (Maitland Mercury October and again November 2006) that the trains were being delayed to make maximum electoral advantage for the Labor government and its candidate and complained about the limited number of initial services. The Minister of Transport said that the crews need to be trained.
The trains were also criticised in the Maitland Mercury during November 2006 as being difficult to push a wheelchair or a stroller onto the train without a ramp or the assistance of two people due to the height of the floor.
See also
References
- ^ a b Where to see our new trains CityRail
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External links
- CityRail
- Hunter railcar control motor carriage
- Hunter railcar control motor carriage (with toilet)
- Hunter Railcar gallery
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