Transwa Prospector

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prospector railcar WDA001 on trial at Windmill Hill Cutting near Toodyay, Western Australia - Feb 2004.

The Transwa Prospector is a standard gauge passenger train operated by Transwa that runs between Perth, Western Australia, and the Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie. It replaced the narrow gauge overnight passenger train called the The Westland that ran on the older Eastern Railway (Western Australia) route.

The Prospector railcars first entered service in November 1971. These Comeng units consisted of five power cars WCA901 through WCA905, and three non powered trailers WCE921 through WCE923. The old railcars are now stored at the Prospector/Avonlink maintenance railway depot at Kewdale Freight Terminal.

The first of three new generation railcars entered service on 28 June 2004, with the original railcars being retired on 29 July 2005. The new railcars are built for a top speed of 210 km/h, however track conditions currently only allow a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The new railcars built by Goninan consist of three driving cars WDA001 through WDA003, three driving cars without buffet WDB011 through WDB013, and an idling car WDC021.

The New Prospector Railcars feature standard 240V Mains Power outlets on the walls between seats for connecting of Laptops and other accessories.