New Generation Rollingstock
| New Generation Rollingstock | |
|---|---|
 Unit 710 at Yeronga in September 2018. | |
 Interior of an NGR | |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Transportation |
| Built at | Savli, Gujarat, India |
| Replaced | Electric multiple unit |
| Constructed | 2015–2018 |
| Entered service | 2017 |
| Number under construction | 75 units |
| Number in service | 45 units (January 2019) |
| Formation | 6 carriages (extendable to 9 carriages) |
| Fleet numbers | 701-775 |
| Operator(s) | Queensland Rail |
| Depot(s) | Wulkuraka |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 147 metres |
| Car length | 23.9 metres |
| Maximum speed | 140 km/h (87 mph) |
| Traction system | Bombardier Mitrac |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC overhead lines |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| Bogies | Bombardier Flexx |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
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.
Contents
1 History
2 Operation
3 Problems
4 Incidents
5 References
6 External links
History
NGR704 arriving at Varsity Lakes for the inaugural NGR passenger service on 11 December 2017
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.[1][2][3][4] They are the first QR electric multiple units not manufactured in Maryborough by either Walkers or Downer Rail.[5]
The NGRs are being built in Savli, India.[6][7] The design is based on the Adelaide Metro A-City Class 4000s, although 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.[7] 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.[8][9][10]
The first three entered service on 11 December 2017 on the Airport and Gold Coast lines.[6][11][12][13] By the time of the Commonwealth Games in April 2018, eight had entered service.[14]
Because of the NGRs non-compliance with disability legislation, all platforms they serve are required to be staffed. Initially confined to the Airport and Gold Coast lines, in May 2018 they began operating on the Doomben line, followed by Roma Street to Northgate services in July and Redcliffe and Springfield line services in September. In October 2018, they began operating on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines.[15][16][17]
Operation
The NGRs are maintained at a purpose built depot to the west of Wulkuraka station.[18][19][20] The new trains will replace the Electric Multiple Unit units 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.[21] Unlike the Interurban Multiple Units that have luggage racks, the seat height has been increased to allow for luggage storage.
Each NGR set comprises of two driving motor cars (prefixes 3 and 8) at each end, coupled to two trailer cars (prefixes 4 and 7) and two intermediate motor cars in the middle (prefixes 5 and 6, with Motor car B currently featuring the toilet module).
The six car configuration are as follows:
DMA—TA—MA—MB—TB—DMB
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. Utilising the same traction equipment based on the 345 class Aventra trains as well as being compatible with the European Train Control System, the NGR will be the only train permitted to travel in the Cross River Rail tunnels. They have provisions for automatic train operation, and extension of the body to 9 carriages.[22]
Problems
A series of faults and design issues were identified on the first units delivered.[23] The Queensland Government refused to accept any more after the first 15 had been delivered until the issues were resolved.[24][25][26] After the dimensions of toilet modules on each train were deemed to be in breach with disability legislation, it was initially announced that only 35 would be fitted with compliant toilets. They were planned to be used only on the Airport, Gold Coast, Ipswich/Rosewood, Caboolture and Sunshine Coast services with the remaining 40 not having toilet facilities and being confined to Brisbane suburban services.[27][28] It has since been announced that all 75 trains will be refitted with two larger toilet modules in the middle carriages to allow passengers with mobility devices to access the toilets from both accessible carriages [29] and will now be used both on Interurban and Brisbane suburban lines.
Work to rectify the faults will be performed by Downer Rail's Maryborough facility.[30] After an exemption application to the Australian Human Rights Commission was rejected, as at March 2018 disability advocates were considering seeking an injunction to have the NGRs removed from service until disability access issues were fixed.[31] NGR units 701 and 702, the first two of the units have been moved to Redbank Railway Workshops and have been stored for at least six months. NGR 701, the first train that arrived in Queensland has made its way to the Maryborough Downer Rail plant on the 29th of January and rectification works to have a second toilet added to all 75 sets have commenced.[29]
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. 715 has been stored at Progress Rail Redbank since January 2018[32]
References
^ Bombardier Consortium Wins Multi-billion Contract for Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project Bombardier 29 January 2014
^ Bombardier NRG Consortium wins $4.4bn contract for Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project Urbanalyst 4 February 2014
^ "Bombardier-led consortium is Queensland New Generation Rollingstock contract winner" Railway Digest February 2014 page 6
^ Our Equity Partners Qtectic
^ Train Dilemma: They should've been made in Maryborough Fraser Coast Chronicle 3 March 2017
^ ab New Generation Rollingstock Department of Transport & Main Roads
^ ab "Queensland NGR EMU cars shipped from Mumbai". Railway Gazette International. 1 February 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Queensland's new EMUs land in Brisbane International Railway Journal 17 February 2016
^ "First Queensland New Generation Rollingstock EMU arrives in Brisbane, maintenance centre officially opened" Railway Digest April 2016 page 30
^ "Queensland's new trains start to arrive" Track & Signal April 2016 page 39
^ Queensland Rail. "New trains to first service the Airport and Gold Coast". Retrieved 3 October 2017.
^ Rollout of QR's problem trains delayed to before the Games Brisbane Times 28 June 2017
^ "New Generation Rollingstock". translink.com.au. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
^ "Timetabling for the Commonwealth Games" Railway Digest June 2018 page 28
^ Johnson, Hayden. "Queensland Rail deploys NGR train to cope with Ipswich line". Queensland Times. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
^ New Generation Rollingstock to roll out to Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula Lines Queensland Rail 27 August 2018
^ "Queensland Government announces New Generation Rollingstock Inquiry" Railway Digest September 2018 page 21
^ New Generation Rollingstock - Wulkuraka Queensland Rail
^ "Work commences on Wulkuraka NGR maintenance centre" Railway Digest June 2014 page 14
^ Queensland NGR maintenance depot completed Railway Gazette International 12 February 2016
^ "New Generation Rollingstock trains enter service" Railway Digest January 2018 page 16
^ "Cross River Rail Business Case" (PDF). Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
^ New Generation Rollingstock has a tonne of flaws The Courier-Mail 1 November 2016
^ Queensland Rail's new train order derailed by Jackie Trad over ongoing design problems ABC News 1 March 2017
^ "Queensland Government halts Bombardier NGR deliveries amidst design issue concerns" Railway Digest April 2017 page 18
^ Queensland Rail new train deficiencies delaying readiness for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, report finds ABC News 8 August 2017
^ Queensland to finally accept the first of its new trains Brisbane Times 22 September 2017
^ Queensland Rail's new rollingstock to cost $150 million to fix design flaws The Courier-Mail 22 September 2017
^ ab Mark Bailey. "NGR trains on track for Maryborough". Department of Transport and Main Roads. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
^ Labor $150m promise to get Qld trains back on track Sunshine Coast Daily 9 November 2017
^ Crockford, Toby (29 March 2018). "Human rights exemption for new trains rejected, leaving door open for legal action". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
^ Korner, Helen Spelitis, Andrew. "UPDATE: Investigation launched into train derailment". Queensland Times. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
External links
Media related to New Generation Rollingstock at Wikimedia Commons
