Sydney Trains K Set

K Set
General
Manufacturer	A Goninan & Co.
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Fleet numbers	K60 - K99
Maximum speed	115km/h
Current collection method	Pantograph
Traction system	Camshaft control (Mitsubishi Electric)
Line(s) served
Operator(s)	Sydney Trains (2013-Present) CityRail (2003-2013) State Rail Authority (1981-2003)
Fuel	Electric
Successor	H-set
Dates
Constructed	1981 - 1985
Entered service	1981 - 1985
In service	1981 - present
Years withdrawn	None
Last vehicles withdrawn	None
Refurbishment	1990's
Statistics
Number under construction	None
Number in service	40 sets
Number withdrawn	None
Features
Airconditioned	Yes
Accessible toilet	No
Baby change table	No
Reversible seating	Yes
Wheelchair access	Yes

The K set is a class of electric multiple unit operated by Sydney Trains and constructed by A Goninan & Co.

History

Originally, under contract 5/79, 8 cars (C3501-3504/D4096-4099, now all in K98/99) were ordered. This order was extended under contract 5/79E, with 90 more cars (C3505-3550/T4171-4216) arriving between December 1981 and July 1983. A further 30 cars (C3551-3580/T4217-4246) were ordered as part of contract 6/82, arriving between April 1984 and December 1985.[1]

Originally, only the 8 cars in the first order were fitted with air conditioning. All others were built with forced air ventilation, with the exception of two cars (C3550 and T4216) in the first order extension that were fitted with air conditioning as spares for the other air conditioned cars. The second batch was retrofitted with air conditioning starting from 1988, however the first batch was not retrofitted until just prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympics. These cars retained the "hopper" windows from the "Citydecker" refurbishment until the late 2000s, but they were sealed shut with an adhesive to avoid the loss of air conditioning. The vents on the doors were also boarded up.

In the early 2000s, traction interlocking and vigilance control were added to the K sets. For some time, K sets with these features fitted had a plus on the target plate, to mark that they were modified from the original design. The pluses have now been removed since it is not necessary to mark changes that the entire fleet has received.

K1-K4 were formed into four car sets K98 and K99 in February-March 2014, with the former K98 being renumbered K91. The driving trailers were partially converted to trailer cars, with the guard's compartment removed but the driver's compartment left.

In July 2017, asbestos was found in the circuit breaker panels, which is inside the driver compartment, of the C and K sets. This caused all C and K sets to be taken out of service for inspection. As a result, S sets were used to replace C/K sets temporarily on services that were scheduled as C/K. All K Sets have since returned to service.

In October 2017, all poles on K sets were painted yellow to comply with accessibility standards.

In August 2018, K96 was fitted with ATP (Automatic Train Protection) equipment. It has been tested extensively since.

Description

Like the L, R & S sets, the K set is a stainless steel double deck train. Each car is equipped with knuckle couplers and has a maximum speed of 115 km/h. Each set is in a C-T-T-C configuration (where C = Control motor, T = Non-control trailer), with the exception of the former K1-4, which were in a C-D configuration (where D = Driving trailer). The sets are currently numbered K60-99.

Each motor car has 4 four-phase Mitsubishi 150 kW motors (as per R and S Sets). The motor power is controlled by camshaft. The motors are powered by 1500V DC from the overhead wires, while the lights and air-conditioning are powered by AC power from an alternator. There is one alternator for each C-T or C-D car pair. The K sets normally use EP braking and also have Westinghouse braking as a backup.

The K set introduced many new features to the suburban fleet such as air conditioning and headlights. To accommodate the air conditioning and associated equipment, the pantograph had to be shifted to the adjacent trailer car to which the motor car is semi-permanently coupled and high voltage cables ran between the two cars.

There were two batches to the K set fleet. The first batch featured low mounted upper deck windows, brown interiors, and unpainted fronts. The second batch featured higher mounted upper deck windows, SRA "Candy" livery front, and yellow interiors, both of which have disappeared as a result of the "Citydecker" refubishment programme. The sets are fitted with reversible, single-sided seatback, vinyl covered seats.

As with the other silver sets, the K sets were built without destination boards, instead using four marker lights. All driving cars (except for the two D cars) were later retrofitted with flipdot destination boards, covering the top marker light.

Services

Historical

Prior to the introduction of the Outer-Suburban Tangara "G" sets, some of the "K" sets from the second batch were used on the South Coast and Central Coast line (via North Shore) peak hour services and these carriages were fitted with high back headrest seats.

Between 1996-2013, the original order of 8 cars ran as four 2-car sets on local Newcastle services, running between Newcastle and Morisset. These cars returned to Hornsby for maintenance, which occured on a rotational basis. On such occasions, a four car K set was substituted on local Newcastle services. In special circumstances, two 2-car K sets were coupled together to form a 4-car set.

Most K sets spent most of their life operating on Sector 3, which is made up of these lines:

• 
• 

The delivery of the A and B sets, starting in 2014, meant that many K sets were no longer required on Sector 3. The sets were gradually transferred to Sector 2, with all sets on Sector 2 by November 2017.

Prior to October 2020, they also operated the following, sometimes swapped with C sets:

• 

Current

K sets currently run on Sector 2, comprising of:

• Leppington, Parramatta and Homebush to City Circle via Town Hall
• Liverpool, Bankstown and Lidcombe to City Circle via Museum
• Macarthur, Campbelltown and Revesby to City Circle via Town Hall

Future

The K sets will only run for a few more years until the NSW TrainLink D sets enter service (which will displace OSCARs to suburban working). The exact timing is dependant on when these trains arrive and finish testing, however Sydney Trains is already making plans to dispose of these trains.

Incidents

• On 28 April 1984, a southbound K set (leading car C3550) crashed into the rear of a freight train just north of Cowan.[2]

Trivia

• Similar to the other silver sets, if one pantograph momentarily loses contact with the overhead, the air-conditioning and lights (except emergency lights) will turn off. This is because there is no electrical connection between the car pairs, so each car is only connected to one pantograph.
• Like other silver sets, the K sets are fitted with a manual handbrake in the trailer car (seen in the fourth photo below).
• On 3 January 2020, set K74 held the honour of running the final K set roster for the Carlingford Line prior to its conversion for the Parramatta Light Rail.
• Sets K97 and K60 ran the last revenue service through platforms 1-2 at Sydenham before their closure on Christmas Day 2019 for Sydney Metro conversion.
• Car C3541 on set K74 has an incorrectly applied NSW TrainLink logo on the exterior.

External Links

• https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/train/fleet-facilities/k-set-trains

Gallery

K85 at Parramatta

K61 at Strathfield

K86 on the Western Line

Vestibule area inside a K Set

Upper deck seating

Lower deck seating

K Set control motor car (C prefix)

K Set trailer car (T prefix)

See also

List of Sydney Trains/NSW TrainLink fleets

New South Wales Rail Rollingstock

Suburban EMUs Red Rattlers S set, K set, C set, T set (Tangara), M set (Millennium), A (Waratah) and B sets (Waratah Series 2) Sydney Metro: Alstom Metropolis set Intercity EMUs U set, V set, H set (OSCAR), D set (Mariyung) Country Trains Retired: CPH railmotor (Tin Hare), Creamy Kate and Trailer, Silver City Comet, 400/500 class, 600/700 class, 620/720 class, 660/760 class, 900/800 class (DEB), 1100 class (Budd), 1200 class (Tulloch) In Service: XPT, Xplorer, Endeavour, Hunter Future: CAF Civity NSWGR Diesel Locomotives 40 class, 41 class, 42 class, 421 class, 422 class, 43 class, 44 class, 442 class, 45 class, 47 class, 48 class, 49 class, 70 class, 71 class, 72 class, 73 class, 79 class, 80 class, 81 class, 82 class, 90 class, PL class, X100 class tractor, X200 class tractor NSWGR Electric Locomotives 71 class, 46 class, 85 class, 86 class NSWGR Steam 10 class, 11 class, 12 class, 13 class, 14 class, 15 class, 16 class, 17 class, 18 class, 19 class, 20 class, 21 class, 23 class, 24 class, 25 class, 26 class, 27 class, 28 class, 29 class, 30 class (3112), 30T class, 32 class (3237)(3265), 34 class, 35 class (3526), 36 class (3642), 38 class (3801)(3820)(3830), D50 class, D53 class, D55 class, D57 class, D58 class, D59 class(5917), AD60 class SMR 10 class, ROD 2-8-0 Trailers End platform, S type, N type, HUB, RUB, Stainless steel carriage stock Light Rail Adtranz Variotram, CAF Urbos 3, Alstom Citadis 305 Rail transport in New South Wales - Rail rollingstock in New South Wales - Sydney Trains Fleet - NSW TrainLink