The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) is a class of electric multiple units being manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Savli, India for the Queensland Rail City network. The first units entered service on 11 December 2017.
Video New Generation Rollingstock
History
In January 2014, the Queensland Government awarded a contract for 75 six-carriage electric multiple units to the Qtectic consortium of Aberdeen Asset Management, Bombardier Transportation, Itochu and John Laing under a 32-year public private partnership. They were the first QR electric multiple units not manufactured in Maryborough by Downer Rail, the latter not submitting a bid for the contract.
The NGRs are being built in Savli, India. The design is based on the Adelaide Metro A-City Class 4000s, and are fitted with nose cones to resemble the existing Electric Tilt Trains for improved aerodynamic performance as opposed to the exposed Scharfenberg couplers used by the existing fleet. The body style differs using flat steel panels on the sides, while retaining corrugated panels for the rooftop. The first arrived at the Port of Brisbane in February 2016.
The first three entered service on 11 December 2017 on the Airport and Gold Coast lines, where extra capacity was needed for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Maps New Generation Rollingstock
Operation
The NGRs are maintained at a purpose built depot to the west of Wulkuraka station. The new trains will replace the Electric Multiple Unit sets as well as increase the size of the fleet by 26%. The NGRs feature high-backed seats, safety straps for bike storage, luggage space underneath the seats, mobility toilet with baby changing table, WiFi and CCTV.
As they are permanently coupled six-car units, passengers are able to walk the entire length of the train, consequently eliminating the need to couple with another unit. Guards travel at the rear as opposed to the middle with the existing fleet, where two three-car units couple to form a six-car unit.
Problems
A series of faults and design issues were identified on the first sets delivered. The Queensland Government refused to accept any more after the first 15 had been delivered until the issues were resolved. It was planned that all would be fitted with toilets; however, after it was found that they did not comply with disability legislation, only 35 will be fitted with compliant toilets. These will be used on the Airport, Gold Coast, Ipswich/Rosewood and Sunshine Coast services with the remaining 40 not having toilet facilities and being confined to Brisbane suburban services. Work to rectify the faults will be performed by Downer Rail's Maryborough facility. After an exemption application to the Australian Human Rights Commission was rejected, disability advocates threatened legal action an attempt to have the trains removed from service.
Incidents
On 19 October 2017, three carriages of unit 715 were derailed while being shunted out of Wulkuraka depot by a towing truck. The front end of carriage 8715 was extensively damaged, with other carriages suffering minor scrapes.
References
External links
Media related to New Generation Rollingstock at Wikimedia Commons
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments