The Sydney Waratah Trains (A and B sets) is a current class of electric multiple unit operating on the Sydney Trains network. A total of 78 A sets and 41 B sets are in service as of June 2021. The Aboriginal word "Waratah" means "beautiful" or "seen from afar".
Although initially intended to replace the L, R and S Sets, there was an insufficient number of A sets to facilitate increased services from the 2017 timetable. As a consequence, an order of 24 additional trains was placed in December 2016. These became known as the Series 2 Waratah B sets, which serve the same roles and features as the A sets, but with some additional upgraded features. The B sets were progressively rolled out from 2018 with the final 24th train entering service the following year, allowing the S sets to be retired once again. A further 17 B sets were ordered in 2019. A sets are numbered A1, A3-A78, then A80, while B sets are numbered B1-B41. Both variants were co-manufactured by Changchun Railway Vehicles in Changchun, China, and Downer Rail at Cardiff, NSW.
Both variants were co-manufactured by Changchun Railway Vehicles in Changchun, China, and Downer Rail at Cardiff, NSW.
Delivery[]
A sets[]
The A sets were partially constructed by Changchun Railway Vehicles in Changchun, China, then shipped to Downer Rail at Cardiff for final assembly and static testing. The trains were then locomotive hauled to Sydney for testing.
The first train to be delivered was the pre-production test vehicle (PPTV) which consisted of four carriages. This train was expected to commence testing in mid 2009, but delays pushed this back to April 2010.
By late 2010, the first three production sets were under test. However, there were further delays as CityRail rejected the trains due to a number of defects on the train. A1 and A2 were shipped back to China to correct these defects.
A3 was the first train to begin passenger service on 1st July 2011. It started off running off-peak services on the Airport & East Hills line. As more trains arrived, they began running on various lines on the network. The final train, A80, was delivered on 2nd June 2014.
B sets[]
In December 2016, 192 new carriages (forming 24 new sets) were ordered for a new timetable planned in November 2017, to keep the S sets out of service. These sets are known as the B sets and were built and delivered in a similar way to the A sets, except that they were shipped as completed sets. The first B set to enter service was set B2 in September 2018, operating un-timetabled services on Sector 2 during the off-peak. The last of the initial order of 24 B sets arrived in April 2019 and entered service on 20 June 2019.
In January 2019, the order was extended by 17 sets, for a total of 41 sets. This second batch of B sets carry set numbers B25 to B41. These sets were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. B25 came off the production line on 28th May 2020 and arrived in Australia on 5th July 2020, on the same ship as B26. [1] B25 entered service on 3rd September 2020 on the 33 run (mostly peak T2/3/8 services), with its first run being 33-A from Flemington Maintenance Centre to Central (empty until Redfern). Over the following months, the rest of the second batch arrived, with the final set (B41) entering service on 2 July 2021.
Formation[]
The trains consist of eight rigid carriages which differs from previous generation designs of two four-car sets coupled into eight-car trains. Each set is configured as follows:
| Carriage Type | Prefix | Numbering (xx = Set number) |
UIC classification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A set | B set | |||
| Driving Trailer | D | 63xx | 11xx | 2′2′ |
| Non-driving Motor | N | 53xx | 17xx | Bo′Bo′ |
| Non-driving Motor | N | 55xx | 19xx | Bo′Bo′ |
| Non-driving Trailer | T | 65xx | 13xx | 2′2′ |
| Non-driving Trailer | T | 66xx | 14xx | 2′2′ |
| Non-driving Motor | N | 56xx | 18xx | Bo′Bo′ |
| Non-driving Motor | N | 54xx | 16xx | Bo′Bo′ |
| Driving Trailer | D | 64xx | 12xx | 2′2′ |
This configuration means guards operate from the rear carriage of the train as opposed to the centre. To offset the reduced visibility (especially at curved platforms) each carriage has 2 external CCTV cameras on each side, allowing the guard to view all eight carriages. The eight car configuration also allows commuters to walk through the entire train in the case of an emergency.
As with previous models, the trains have the pantographs on the trailer cars, with high voltage cables connecting to the adjacent motor car. As with previous fourth generation trains, they run on 1500V DC from overhead wires, but convert all of this to various AC voltages to power the train's systems (including the motors).
The trains use Hitachi's 2-level IGBT-VVVF traction inverter control system derived from that of the JR East E233-3000 series.
Spares/Prototype[]
The pre-production test vehicle (PPTV) consisted of four cars in a D-N-N-D configuration, numbered D6379, N5342,N5442 and D6479. The set number A79 was skipped to avoid numbering conflicts with these prototype cars. They primarily tested on the 
, which was the only time Waratahs ran, because they are too long.
After testing, D6379 and D6479 were stored while the remaining A-sets were delivered.
D6379 replaced D6342, which was the leading carriage (and most damaged) in the buffer-stop crash at Richmond in 2018.
Design[]
Inside, the train includes additional Emergency Help Points and CCTV cameras. Axis Communications was awarded the contract to install the train's extensive system of 98 CCTV cameras, which are linked together with Power over Ethernet and utilise progressive scanning technology to allow capturing of events in clear high resolution, with no distortion in quick movement individual frames. The CCTV cameras are designed to withstand vibration and features technologies such as an in-built heater to prevent condensation and alarms to alert of removal or obstruction.
Nightshine Australia was selected to produce luminescent arrow signs, which are affixed on the base of outer seats on the lower and upper decks to direct passengers to the most appropriate route of exit. The train flooring utilises Treadmaster TM8, made from a polymer-based material that is designed to be durable, vandal and graffiti resistant. They are also designed with safety in mind, being highly fire resistant with low smoke toxicity output.
Improvements to the DVAs (Digital Voice Announcements) with differential pitch of the voice allow more natural sounding speech. All the stations included in the stopping pattern are also announced prior to or soon after departure from a terminus stop. These announcements were replaced in 2013, after CityRail was rebranded to Sydney Trains.
The trains can also connect to Transport for NSW's servers, which brings in a range of highly useful features. Controllers at the Rail Operations Centre can connect to the train to answer emergency help point calls and remotely queue announcements. Although every train on the network has auto-levelling airbags that adjust to passenger load, the Waratahs are the only train which can send the status of these airbags to a server. This allows platform screens and realtime apps to be able to display information about how full each carriage is, and for air conditioning systems to adjust according to how full the carriage is.
The A set is the first passenger train in the world to use LED lamps for all lighting (except headlights). Moquette, a durable, vandal-resistant material first used in the OSCAR trains, Hunter Railcars, and later adopted in the refurbishments of both the Tangara T sets and Endeavour railcars, is used to cover the train's seats.
The first 40 Waratah A sets to enter service carried the NSW Government's Waratah logo. This was later replaced by the Sydney Trains hop logo after a restructure of the state's transport agencies in July 2013. After the rebrand to Sydney Trains, the side of the train near the driver's cabs was covered in orange vinyl.
B sets have the same appearance and functionality as A sets. The main differences for B sets are a slightly different livery, a new additional information screen in the vestibule area, and the internal passenger information screens being a LCD display instead of an LED display. Sets B23 onwards also carry special equipment for rail fault monitoring.
Waratah carriages have a seated capacity of 101 passengers for driving trailer cars, 118 for motor cars, and 110 for trailer cars.
Operations[]
A and B sets (Sector 3)
Berowra or Hornsby to Penrith, Emu Plains or Richmond- Hornsby to Gordon via Epping and Strathfield
A and B sets (Sector 2)
- Leppington, Parramatta or Homebush to City Circle via Strathfield
- Liverpool or Lidcombe to City Circle via Sydenham
- Leppington to Schofields or Richmond (weekend mornings and late nights only)
- Olympic Park to various destinations (weekends and special events only)
- Macarthur, Campbelltown or Revesby to City Circle via Sydenham/Airport
Note that as B sets are practically identical to A sets, any driver qualified to drive an A set is also qualified for B sets. B sets have run on all lines that A sets have, but are generally less common on Sector 3 and the T5 Cumberland line, although they have regular timetabled services on both. A sets are generally less common on Sector 2.
They are not scheduled to run on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line, as the power supply has not been upgraded to cope with the high-current draw of the Waratah fleet, and it is more efficient to have one class of train running the entire line. However Waratahs do rarely make trips along the Illawara line for testing.
Prior to the 2017 timetable, Waratahs also never ran on the Cumberland line. They also never ran to the T6 Carlingford line, because they are too long. The maximum amount of cars on the T6 is 4 cars, but Waratahs are 8. The prototype has been there, though.
On 21 July 2019, B24 participated in the "three generations run" during Transport Heritage NSW's Farewell S Sets public event. B24 ran up to Strathfield, while the other two sets that ran, Red Rattler F1 and S Sets S28 + S56 continued to St Marys.
On 20 November 2021, B sets began running regular services on Sector 3. They previously ran on Sector 3 to substitute for an unavailable A set.
On 7 February 2022, Waratah trains operated the T4 in passenger service for the first time, with A62 running the first one. They were running between the City Circle and Hurstville due to industrial action preventing them from using the T8 line. One set ran to Waterfall as well during the day. Waratahs are not timetabled to operate on the T4 in regular service, and rarely operate on the line, even in testing.
All B Set Waratahs have since rolled out a new PIDS which display more information including the time, line the train is travelling on and full list of stations in a clearer way than was previously done.
Maintenance[]
Maintenance of the trains is done by Downer, as part of the purchase contract. Most maintenance is done at Auburn Maintenance Facility (AMF), which was built under the delivery contract for the first batch of A sets. The sets are locomotive hauled up to Downer's facility in Cardiff for heavy maintenance.
Accidents[]
- A2 was involved in an acid spill during transfer from China. The train was severely damaged and was later written off, becoming the first and the only Waratah train to be scrapped. Set A80 was later built to take A2's place.
- On 14th October 2014, A29 was extensively damaged after it was trapped by rising flood at Bardwell Park, water reached up to the door level. As a reason, many electrical things underneath the train were destroyed. Repairs took several months to complete.
- A22 was derailed by the catch points. The train only had minor damage, was repaired and it soon got back in service.
- On 22nd January 2018, A42 crashed into the buffer stop at the end of platform 2 at Richmond station, at around 35km/h. The resulting recovery operation took several days as the couplers were damaged. Eventually, the train was transported in sections of 2-3 cars to Cardiff. There had been rumours that the train would be written off, which have since been debunked. In response to the incident, Sydney Trains has introduced a temporary speed restriction of 20 km/h on approach to Richmond station. The train stop attached to the signal controlling access to the platforms will also strike the train if it exceeds 25km/h. After the repairs at Cardiff, A42 was then transferred to UGL Unipart at Auburn for additional repairs, with damaged driving car D6342 being replaced by the prototype's car D6379. A42 re-entered service on March 27th, 2019. The ATSB could not determine exactly why the driver failed to brake on arrival at Richmond.[2]
- On 6th May 2020, set A53 hit and damaged infrastructure at Yennora.
- On 5th September 2018, A18 hit and killed man at Riverwood station.[3]
- On 10th March 2023, carriage D6373 on set A73 suffered damage to its windscreen, destination screen and pantograph after bringing down power lines at Panania.[4]
Trivia[]
- A42 is the first set to suffer major damage since the class' debut when it crashed into the buffers at Richmond.
- It’s also the first set to use one of the prototype carriages (D6379) as a replacement carriage.
- On 30th September 2018, set A3 ran the last Sydney Trains service along the Epping-Chatswood Rail Link in the eastbound direction. The last westbound service on the ECRL (and the last ECRL service overall) was run by Tangara T sets T53 and T74. After the service by the latter pair finished, the line underwent conversion to become part of the Sydney Metro automated driverless rail network.
- When it first entered service, Series 2 Waratah set B2 carried a special livery on cars D1102 and D1202 with Waratah flowers and the graphic "The Series 2 Waratah has arrived". This livery was later removed in March 2020, along with the "1 of 24 new trains" decal on all the other B sets - a decal which has been removed completely as of September 2020 due to the extension order of another 17 B-sets having been confirmed.
- Car D1123 on set B23 has a yellow patch (much like the A sets) on the lower front. It is unknown as to why it has this patch.
- A3 and A4 were delivered with the L7 Cityrail logo on the side, between the upper and lower deck windows. Before entry to service, this was replaced with the NSW Government/Cityrail logo. With the rebrand to Sydney Trains, it was changed to the Sydney Trains 'hop' logo. A13 became the first set to incorporate the new logo. The side on the front of the driving cars were also repainted orange.
- The B sets were actually delivered in the A set livery and wrapped in black and orange before they entered service.
- B sets delivered B25-onwards were delivered in a black front, but the sides were identical to the older A sets.
- Sets A27, A33 and A62 have a larger font on the set number at the front (on cars D6327, D6333 and D6462 respectively) for unknown reasons. D6462 also previously had a retro-stuck letter "A" above the number.
- Sets B13 and B39 were decorated with a special rainbow "Ride for Pride" livery for Sydney WorldPride 2023, along with Tangara sets T29 and T81.
- In a similar instance to the WorldPride livery mentioned above, sets B11, B23 and B34 also wore a special livery for NAIDOC Week 2023.
Film Appearances[]
- When ABC ME (after it was rebranded from ABC3) first came out, a music video called 'Me2u' was played. In the first few shots, an A set (A32) can be seen coming towards the camera at Newtown and later going past the presenter in the video.
- A1 made an appearance in the music video “In The Beginning” by rap group OneFour. The video was filmed at the group’s hometown of Mount Druitt, with Mount Druitt station also appearing in the clip.
Gallery[]
See also[]
List of Sydney Trains/NSW TrainLink fleets
References[]
- ↑ http://www.changchun.gov.cn/zw_33994/yw/zwdt_74/jjdt/202005/t20200528_2360183.html (in Chinese)
- ↑ http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2018/rair/ro-2018-004/
- ↑ https://www.theleader.com.au/story/5629403/man-struck-and-killed-by-train-at-riverwood/#slide=0
- ↑ https://7news.com.au/news/nsw/light-rail-outage-overhead-wiring-issues-causes-commuter-chaos-in-sydney--c-10001016
External Links[]