CityRail T & G sets
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| Tangara | |
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 Repainted Tangara set T33 at Wolli Creek |
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 Inside a Tangara T-set Motor carriage. |
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| In service | 1988 - present |
| Manufacturer | Goninan |
| Constructed | 1988 - 1994 |
| Formation | 4 and 8 car (2 4 car sets) |
| Capacity | 98 + 112 |
| Operator | RailCorp as the product group CityRail |
| Lines served | All suburban lines |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 20.320 metres |
| Width | 3 meters |
| Height | 4.413 meters |
| Weight | 42 tonnes |
| Gauge | 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
- For the Tangara genus of birds, see Tangara (genus).
The Tangara (an Australian Aboriginal word meaning to go) is a class of electric multiple unit operated by CityRail in and around Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Tangara comes in two subclasses - suburban sets known as "T sets", and outer-suburban sets known as "G sets". Tangaras commenced service between 1988 and 1995, and are known as "third generation" trains.[1]
A Tangara is a four-car set, with the middle two cars being non-control motor cars, and the two outer cars being driving control trailers fitted with one pantograph. Like other suburban trains in the CityRail fleet, Tangaras are of a double-decker design. The trains are equipped with air conditioning and chopper control. Two four-car sets can be coupled to provide one eight-car set - most suburban Tangaras operate this way. There are occasional workings of an eight-car Tangara set made up of one G set and one T set, usually on outer suburban routes when there is a shortage of G Sets.
A total of 450 carriages were ordered, and in 1996, five spare driving trailers were ordered as replacements for accident-damaged carriages. All carriages were manufactured by Goninan.
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[edit] T sets
The T sets are the second newest suburban trains in the CityRail fleet. With 370 carriages, the T sets are one of the most common models in the fleet. The T sets replaced the first generation of Sydney's electric rolling stock.[1]
The cars built were:
- Driving Trailer Cars - D6101-D6285 with additional spare cars D6286-D6289.
- Motor Cars - N5101-N5285.
Unlike most other CityRail trains the seats in the upper and lower decks of T sets are not reversible, but in a fixed position, meaning that a significant number of passengers are often facing backwards.
When first introduced the T sets were fitted with passenger door release handles to prevent loss of air conditioning at stations. These were later disconnected (and some removed and plated over), possibly due to passengers not getting used to opening the doors for themselves when needed. A lot of T sets still have these handles in place, but pulling them does nothing. C set carriages were fitted with a similar system, using push buttons instead of handles.
The T sets originally had blue fabric upholstery that has since been replaced with blue vinyl upholstery. Although, a T set is currently in operation with new blue fabric upholstery and repadded in a softer padding.
 A T-set upper deck. |
 A T-set lower deck. |
[edit] G sets
| Outer Suburban Tangara | |
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 Tangara set G6 at Sydney Central. |
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| In service | 1994 - present |
| Manufacturer | Goninan |
| Constructed | 1994 |
| Formation | 4 and 8 car (2 4 car sets) |
| Capacity | 98 (in control cars and lavatory cars) + 112 |
| Operator | RailCorp as the product group CityRail |
| Lines served | Illawarra and South Coast, Western and Blue Mountains, North Shore + Central Coast and Newcastle |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 20.320 metres |
| Width | 3 meters |
| Height | 4.413 meters |
| Weight | 42 tonnes |
| Gauge | 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
The last 80 of the 450 Tangara cars were modified for use on South Coast, Blue Mountains and Central Coast peak hour services and are known as the outer-suburban G sets. They entered service in 1994-1995, shortly after the delivery of the last T set carriages. The G sets have a similar external appearance to the T sets - the only major differences are round green door buttons and a modified front with orange panels & bottom corners that taper inwards. Inside, the G sets sport improvements, such as high-backed reversible seats, toilets, fresh water dispensers and luggage racks. The G sets were originally nicknamed "Odyssey" when first released[citation needed].
The cars built were:
- Driving Trailer Cars - OD6801-OD6840 with additional driving trailer OD6841.
- Motor Cars - ON5801-ON5820.
- Motor Cars with Toilet - ONL5851-ONL5870.
Due to the withdrawal of 15 V set carriages in late 2005, G set Tangaras subsequently began to do more off-peak Intercity runs to Port Kembla, Kiama, and Wyong. For a brief period, G sets even operated as far as Newcastle, a feat many people believed wasn't possible because of the loading gauge past Wyong. G-set Tangaras also operate on the Blue Mountains line, though only as far as Springwood, meaning the vast majority of services are provided by V Sets.
Since 2007, the role of the G sets is changing. The OSCARs (H sets) - introduced between December 2006 and 2008 - are essentially replacing the G sets as outer-suburban trains, meaning the G sets will be progressively redeployed to suburban services. This will provide extra capacity on high demand existing services such as on the Western lines and allow new services to be introduced. As of 2008, G sets are often used on peak suburban services that extend into intercity areas, such as services to Springwood and Wyong (via the North Shore line).
Set G7 was fitted with an AC drive system for evaluation purposes with the existing DC stock and compatibility with signalling and communication systems on the network. G7 was scrapped in 2005 at Maintrain facility at Auburn after the Waterfall train disaster, as all four cars were beyond repair.
[edit] In service
Since 2003, most Tangaras have been updated with a new CityRail corporate appearance. This involved the fitting of yellow panels on the front, yellow painted passenger doors and the end carriages receiving yellow paint surround. Blue and yellow stripes along the bottom of the carriages were replaced by a single yellow stripe and new style "fuzzy" CityRail logos were placed on the driving cars.
The following Tangara carriages have been scrapped due to accident damage:
- Tangara Motor Cars: N5127, ON5816 and ONL5866
- Driving Trailer Cars: D6114, D6127, D6274, OD6831 and OD6832
The following are replacement carriages:
- D6285 and N5285 are replacing written-off cars D6127 and N5127.
- D6286 is on set T99 (replacing written-off D6274)
- D6287 is on set T73 (replacing written-off D6114)
- D6108 is on set T16 (replacing D6241 for unknown reasons)
- D6288 is on set T96 (replacing D6268 for unknown reasons)
- D6289 is on set T24 (replacing D6148, which is replacing D6108, which is replacing D6241)
- D6184 is on set T37 (repaired set back to normal)
- OD6841 is currently used in Outer Suburban Tangara set G21 replacing OD6807.
For a while, motor car N5127, along with C3866, was used on the Ropes Creek line for fire fighter training purposes. However, both cars were subsequently destroyed by vandals. [2]
[edit] 4D
A train bearing strong resemblance to a Tangara, known as the 4D, was once in use by Connex on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines in Melbourne Australia. It was similar in its shape only as it was of a different gauge and is built to be compatible with Melbourne's Comeng trains. It was not actually a Tangara but was a new-build of a similar design. The 4D stood for "Double Deck Design and Development".
If the double-decker train had proved success on these Melbourne suburban train lines, another 19 double decker trains were proposed. By the end of 1992, it was decided not to order any more double decker trains. Despite it's frequent breakdowns, the train had lasted up until early 2002 before it's permanent withdrawal from service.
The 4D was bought by RailCorp (in 2006) who run the Tangara, but was scrapped on 30 March 2006 at Sims Metal, Brooklyn, Victoria. The Tangara-compatible components and interior fittings were removed before scrapping and are rumoured to have been transferred to Sydney to be used in Tangara trains.
Carriage numbers were:
- Motor Cars - 6000M & 6002M
- Driving Trailer Cars - 6000T & 6002T
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b The four generations of electric rolling stock -CityRail
- ^ NSWrail.net - Dunheved Railway Station
[edit] External links
- CityRail
- T set control trailer carriage
- T set motor carriage
- G set control trailer carriage
- G set motor carriage
- G set motor trailer with toilet
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