Hunter railcar (CityRail)
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Hunter railcars are new type of diesel multiple unit being trialed for use by CityRail on the Hunter Valley lines centred on Newcastle. They will replace the now dated 620 & 720 railcars presently in use sometime during 2007.
The New Hunter Railcars are currently being built by United Goninan and are gradually being brought into the Cityrail Network for testing. These cars have a very neat design, with flat surfaces on the sides, and a particularly neat roofline. The design is derived from the new generation Transwa Prospector, except that the lower top speed requirement for the Hunter line means that the driving cars are each single-engined instead of dual-engined.
The Railcars have practically the same design of seating as the H Sets (OSCARS) inside, and also provide wheelchair seating. However they have been criticised in the Maitland Mercury during November 2006 as having too high a floor to enable a wheelchair or a stroller to be pushed onto the train without a ramp or the assistance of two people.
Seating is along one deck, 3x2, and 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 at the place where the vestibule joins to 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 order was for 14 cars: -7 Driving Power Cars HM 2701-2707 -7 Driving Trailers with Lavatory HMT 2751-2757
These 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 are on the Millennium Trains, the Hunter Railcars and the H Sets. 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, and stretches to the end of the guard's door. The stainless steel pannelling starts at the guard's door. The guard's door is designed to operate separately from the passenger doors.
The Power Cars have accommodation for 76 passengers, and the Driving Trailers have accommodation for 60 passengers.
The Railcars are late, like the OSCARS. They are still being tested on the network. The final working of the 620/720 railcars was supposed to be on July 16, 2006, but now they will be withdrawn in sometime during 2007.
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. The reason offered by the Minister of Transport is that the crews need to be trained, the Liberal candidate for the Maitland electorate for the State election due in March 2007 who has been for some years an advocate of better rail transport stated (Maitland Mercury October and again November 2006) that the trains were being delayed to make maximun electoral advantage for the Labor government and its candidate.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- CityRail
- Hunter railcar control motor carriage
- Hunter railcar control motor carriage (with toilet)
- Hunter Railcar gallery
| CityRail fleet | |
|---|---|
| Interurban and outer suburban electric fleet | |
| Suburban electric fleet | |
|
L, R, and S sets | K set | C set | T set (Tangara) | M set (Millennium) |
|
| Regional diesel fleet | |
|
620 & 720 railcar | Endeavour railcar | Hunter railcar |
