Hunter-based consortium Reliance Rail (Downer EDI) has been selected as manufacturer for the building and maintenance of 626 new CityRail carriages, the largest single order of rolling stock ever undertaken in Australia.
The $3.6 billion project includes $2 billion to build the trains and a new Auburn maintenance facility. RailCorp will pay for the trains and maintenance by making payments over the 35-year life of the contract.
The project is set to generate around 250 new electrical and mechanical trades jobs at Cardiff, west of Newcastle, where EDI is based. It is also expected that, according to local content rules, one new apprentice will be employed for every nine workers on the project.
Under the contract, Reliance Rail would also be required to ensure that 72 eight-carriage trains were available for service every day, and to build train simulators to train rail staff.
On top of the original order, the 626 carriage deal includes the order for an extra 104 growth carriages designed to provide for ongoing patronage on the network.
The first carriage is expected to arrive on the network for testing in mid-2009 with replacement of the last non-airconditioned carriages by end of 2012.
Specifications of the new trains
Seated capacity: 884
Train mass: 395 tonnes
Train width: 3030mm
Ceiling height: 2100mm end saloons, 1920mm upper and lower saloons
Traction system: Hitachi
Body material: stainless steel
Features of the new trains
Airconditioning, CCTV cameras, passenger information screens, traction interlocking, 16 wheelchair spaces, vandal resistant design, upgraded crashworthiness standards
For more information about the CityRail Fleet Visit: http://www.cityrail.info/aboutus/trains/index.jsp
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