The rollout of the new Regional Rail Fleet has passed another major milestone, with more than half of the fleet now in Australia.
Sixteen of the fleet’s 29 trains are now in the country, including nine of the ten long regional trains and seven of the nine short regional trains.
The milestone comes as four long regional trains are currently being tested on the NSW rail network as part of the fleet’s extensive testing and commissioning program.
The new trains can operate on both electric and diesel power, allowing them to run on electrified sections of the network as well as regional routes where overhead power is not available. This bi-mode technology is a first for regional passenger trains in Australia.
Testing and commissioning work is being supported through the purpose-built Mindyarra Maintenance Centre in Dubbo, where the new fleet will also be maintained once it enters service.
Before carrying passengers, the trains must complete thousands of kilometres of trial running across metropolitan and regional rail lines, testing systems including braking, signalling, communications, passenger information and onboard safety features.
The first two long regional trains have completed the required passenger service kilometre testing and will undergo additional modifications before further testing.
Planning is now underway for the first passenger service between Sydney and Dubbo. The service will begin only after testing, modifications and safety accreditation from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator are completed.
The new Regional Rail Fleet will eventually replace the ageing XPT, XPLORER and most Endeavour trains, providing newer and more accessible services between Sydney, regional NSW and interstate destinations.
In the meantime, the NSW Government’s $40.3 million XPT life extension program is continuing to keep existing services operating while the new fleet completes testing and accreditation.
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