CountryLink XPT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| XPT | |
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 XP2004 in its new livery at Central Station, Sydney |
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| Manufacturer | Commonwealth Engineering |
| Constructed | 1980 |
| Entered service | April 8, 1982 |
| Number built | 19 power cars 60 passenger cars |
| Operator | CountryLink |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 160 km/h service, 193 km/h record |
| Engine | Paxman VP185 12-cylinder diesel electric |
| Power output | 1492 kW / 2000 horsepower (per power car) |
The XPT, (short for "eXpress Passenger Train"), is the main passenger train used in regional New South Wales, Australia. It operates on key eastern seaboard routes including the Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane services. The XPT has been in service from 1982, and is based on the striking InterCity 125 design used by British Rail.
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[edit] History
[edit] Development
In the 1970s, public concern about the ageing state of passenger rollingstock in New South Wales led to the situation becoming a political issue in the 1976 State Election. In 1977, the Public Transport Commission issued several tenders for the construction of replacement rail vehicles of varying types. Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng) submitted a tender for a single type of train based on the British InterCity 125 train, which had entered service from 1976. In 1979, this Comeng bid was successful and although the bid was for 100 vehicles, only 30 were constructed by the time the contracts were signed in 1980. The initial order was for four sets of five passenger cars hauled by two power cars each, and two spare power cars.[1]
The HST design had to be significantly modified, with the power cars becoming shorter, the engine being down rated, and air filters and the cooling system modified to cater for hot and dusty Australian conditions. The passenger trailers cars were based on a Budd design, rather than the British Mark III trailers of the HST, which were considered unsuitable. The interior of the passenger cars was based on the HST however, with fixed seating of 1+2 configuration in first class and 2+2 configuration in second class.
[edit] In service
The first two power cars commenced testing with a luggage van in August 1981. With an operating speed of over 160 km/h, on a demonstration run to Albury on September 6, 1981 the XPT set a new Australian speed record of 183 km/h between Table Top and Gerogery, about 40 km from Wagga Wagga, breaking that of Western Australia's 1971 Prospector railcar. On a test run to Albury on September 10, 1992 the XPT reached 193 km/h between Table Top and Yerong Creek. However this record was broken by Queensland's QR Tilt Train in 1999.
The first full test XPT set ran in January 1982, and the first revenue passenger service began on 8th April 1982 to Dubbo, replacing the locomotive hauled Central West Express. The next service was the Mid- North Coast XPT to Kempsey from May 1982. The Riverina XPT to Albury was introduced in August 1982, with services introduced to Canberra in August 1983 and Tenterfield or Armidale in 1984 (the Northern Tablelands XPT). The initial XPT livery was the red, orange and black livery of the then State Rail Authority of New South Wales.
Initially the XPT carried a fare surcharge compared to parallel locomotive hauled services, however this was abolished in 1985. The XPT was a success, with high patronage forcing the order and delivery of an additional 12 trailer cars to allow six sets of 7 passenger cars. This allowed the extension of the Mid-North Coast XPT from Kempsey to Grafton, becoming the Holiday Coast XPT from 1985.
In 1988, the Booz- Allen Hamilton report issued by the newly elected Greiner State Government recommended the cessation of all country passenger services, citing their economic non-viability.[2] This was considered politically unfeasible, so the reports alternative option of moving New South Wales to an all-XPT country passenger service was adopted, resulting in the progressive withdrawal of locomotive hauled services. In 1989, CountryLink was established as a business unit of State Rail, and from 1990, XPT services were extended to Brisbane and Murwillumbah, the Northern Tablelands XPT was cut back to Tamworth, and the Canberra XPT was withdrawn,[3] replaced by locomotive hauled trains (prior to the introduction of the Xplorer railcars).
Between 1990 and 1992, with the inception of the CountryLink brand, the trains were repainted in a new blue, turquoise and white livery. In 1992, tenders were called for the provision of additional rollingstock and the refurbishment of existing cars for the introduction of XPT services to Melbourne. ABB in Dandenong, Victoria constructed four additional power cars, five new seating cars and eight new sleeper cars. The sleeper cars were introduced on services to Murwillumbah and Brisbane in 1993, the Tamworth XPT was replaced by an Xplorer set, and the daily Grafton XPT was introduced. Services to Melbourne began at the end of 1993, initially a single overnight service (replacing the Sydney/Melbourne Express) but later an additional daily service was introduced, replacing the Intercapital Daylight Express (which had actually been withdrawn earlier in 1991). In 2004, with the closure of the Murwillumbah branch line, the Murwillumbah XPT was cut back to Casino.
[edit] Services
The XPT fleet are currently used on five routes from Sydney:
- Melbourne (2 daily)
- Brisbane
- Dubbo
- Grafton
- Casino
[edit] Fleet
CountryLink's fleet currently includes
- 19 XPT power cars
- 8 Sleeping cars
- 9 First class saloon cars
- 9 First class saloon/buffet cars
- 25 Economy class saloon cars
- 9 Economy class saloon/luggage cars
CountryLink's XPT is currently undergoing a major refurbishment. This work is carried out at United Group Rail's facilities at Chullora, NSW. They emerge with new interior decor, including new seat covers, curtains, carpets, and improved inter-carriage gangway, buffets, washrooms, disabled facilities, plus upgraded driver's cab layout and a new CountryLink corporate livery.
[edit] Carriages
Carriage coding, features and numbers are as follows:
- XP- Power Cars: XP 2000 - XP 2018. 2000 - 2014 were built by Comeng, 2015 - 2018 were built by ABB Transportation.
- XFH- Economy Class, Booked Luggage & Guard's Lookout: XFH 2104 - XFH 2010, XFH 2112 and XFH 2113. All built by Comeng.
- XF- Economy Class: XF 2210 - XF 2224. All built by Comeng.
- XBR- First Class & Buffet: XBR 2150 - XBR 2158. All built by Comeng. XBR 2157 was rebuilt economy class saloon XD 2225 and XBR 2158 was rebuilt from economy saloon/luggage car XDH 2111; both were rebuilt by ABB Transportation.
- XL- First Class: XL 2228 - XL 2236. XL 2228 - XL 2232 were built new and XL 2233 - 2236 were rebuilt by ABB Transportation from XFH/XDH saloon/luggage cars.
- XAM- First Class sleeping car, can also be used as a day sitting car: XAM 2175 - XAM 2182 were built by ABB Transportation.
Typically the XPT operates as a seven car set consisting of (from Sydney end) XP-XFH-XF-XF-XBR-XL-XP for services on the Central West XPT to Dubbo. All other services have the XAM first class day/nighter car attached to the XL sitting car. Countrylink operate the XAM cars on all services arriving and departing Sydney to/from Melbourne, Brisbane, Grafton and Casino.
[edit] Power cars
XPT power cars feature a Paxman VP185 12-cylinder, turbo-charged diesel electric engine boasting 1492 kW / 2000 horsepower. A typical XPT consist will include two power cars, one pulling and the other pushing. On 18 of the 19 XP power cars, the State Rail Authority has named these after destinations that the XPT has served. These are:
- XP2000 - City of Maitland
- XP2001 - City of Dubbo
- XP2002 - City of Brisbane
- XP2003 - City of Orange
- XP2004 - City of Kempsey
- XP2005 - City of Newcastle
- XP2006 - City of Wagga Wagga
- XP2007 - City of Albury
- XP2008 - City of Goulburn
- XP2009 - City of Murwillumbah
- XP2010 - City of Taree
- XP2011 - City of Sydney
- XP2012 - City of Tamworth
- XP2013 - City of Casino
- XP2014 - City of Grafton
- XP2015 - City of Wangaratta
- XP2016 - City of Cootamundra
- XP2017 - City of Melbourne
- XP2018 - City of Coffs Harbour
Currently only power cars XP2003, XP2004, XP2006, XP2007 and XP2017 retain their names. It is interesting to note that in the first delivery of power cars (XP2000-XP2009), that the State Rail Authority did not name any of the power cars "City of Sydney".
Early in the split up of the NSW State Rail Authority into CountryLink, CityRail and FreightRail, power car XP2012, "City of Tamworth" was used in many CountryLink publicity photographs.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Bromage, D. 20 years of XPTs. Railway Digest March 2002
- ^ Hoyle, J. CountryLink- a snapshot. Railway Digest November 1996, ARHS NSW Division
- ^ "History of Railways in Canberra" ARHS ACT Division, History of Railways in Canberra Accessed=29 April 2007
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