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New Generation Rollingstock

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New Generation Rollingstock
NGR 766 at Karrabin station in July 2019
Interior of an NGR
In serviceDecember 2017 (2017-12)
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atSavli, Gujarat, India
ReplacedElectric multiple unit
InterCity Express
Constructed2015–2019
Entered service2017
Refurbished2019–2024 (accessibility upgrades)
Number built75
Number in service75
Formation6 carriages
Fleet numbers701–775
OperatorsQueensland Rail
DepotsWulkuraka
Lines servedAll except Ferny Grove, Rosewood and Beenleigh
Specifications
Train length147 metres (482 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Car length23.9 metres (78 ft 5 in)
Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph)
Traction systemIGBT-VVVF (Bombardier MITRAC)
Traction motors3-phase AC induction motor (Bombardier)
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead lines
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) is a class of individually-propelled carriages ("electric multiple units") manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Savli, India for the Queensland Rail City network that entered service between December 2017 and December 2019. They are Queensland Rail's largest fleet of electric trains.

History

NGR702 under test at Bowen Hills in March 2017
NGR702 arriving at Wulkuraka in January 2017
NGR 719 after the disability upgrade has been completed. This train now has two toilets in the centre of the train (back to back in the middle two cars) and more priority seating throughout the train

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 were built in Savli, India.[6][7] The design is completely new, and the trains 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.[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.[15] In October 2018, they began operating on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines. In February 2019, they began to operate to Shorncliffe and Cleveland. The same month, the NGRs became the largest fleet of electric trains in Queensland.[16][17][18] In March 2020 they commenced operating on the Sunshine Coast line to Nambour.[19][20]

As of March 2020, they operate passenger services across the City network except for the Beenleigh, Ferny Grove and Rosewood lines.[19][21][22]

NGRs will not operate on Sunshine Coast line services north of Nambour until signalling upgrades to Gympie North have been completed. Currently trains are required to compatible with the operation of Automatic Train Protection which isn't fitted on the NGRs.[23][24] The last NGR, unit 775, entered service in January 2020.[25][26]

Operation

The NGRs are maintained at a purpose built depot to the west of Wulkuraka station.[27][28][29] Once modifications are complete, the new trains will allow all of the Electric Multiple Unit fleet and InterCity Express sets to be withdrawn. The trains increase the size of the fleet by 26%. The NGRs feature high-backed seats, safety straps for bike storage, luggage space underneath the seats unlike the Interurban Multiple Units that have luggage racks, mobility toilet with baby changing table, free public WiFi and CCTV.[30]

Each NGR unit comprises 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).[citation needed]

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 Bombardier Aventras 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.[citation needed]

Problems

A series of faults and design problems were identified on the first units delivered.[31] After the first 15 had been delivered, the Queensland Government refused to accept any more until the problems were resolved.[32][33][34] The dimensions of toilet modules on each train were deemed to be in breach of the disability legislation by 12 millimetres, so it was announced that only 35 would be fitted with compliant toilets, while the remaining 40 would not have toilet facilities, and were to be confined to Brisbane suburban services.[35][36] It was later stated that all 75 trains would 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.[37]

Accessibility improvements

Work to rectify the non-compliant parts of the trains was performed by Downer Rail's Maryborough facility.[38] After an exemption application to the Australian Human Rights Commission was rejected, in March 2018 disability advocates considered seeking an injunction to have the NGRs removed from service until disability access problems were fixed.[39] The first arrived at Maryborough for rectification work in January 2019. So far at least 2 units (719 and 735) have been completed. The project is scheduled for completion in 2024.[40][41]

The rectification works consist of:[37]

  • Reconfiguring the toilet module of the MB[clarify] car to make it Disability compliant
  • Completely overhauling the MA[clarify] (Motor A) car to make it practically identical to the refined MB[clarify] car which includes the addition of a toilet
  • Adding more priority seats around the train
  • Small changes to buttons and signs to make them easier to use/read, including the possibility of guard request buttons for wheelchair users
    New toilet in NGR 719. Both modules within the train are practically identical and come noticeably closer to the external doorway than the original module

The reality of the rectification work solves the disability access problem by providing a toilet module for both centre (wheelchair accessible) cars. This means that wheelchairs no longer have to travel around the toilets to access them. No major changes were made to the general seating other than recovering some of the seats with priority labelling including some traverse seats with high backs and no arm rests.

More help points were added in the space between the two toilet modules.

The toilet modules were made disability compliant by moving the front side and door about 12mm closer to the external doors, while leaving the toilet bowl in the original location. Labelling and other minor changes were made in the toilet module as well, such as the installation of evacuation lights.

These trains can be easily identified by the large priority stickers on the windows all along the train.

References

  1. ^ Bombardier Consortium Wins Multi-billion Contract for Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project Bombardier 29 January 2014
  2. ^ Bombardier NRG Consortium wins $4.4bn contract for Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project Urbanalyst 4 February 2014
  3. ^ "Bombardier-led consortium is Queensland New Generation Rollingstock contract winner" Railway Digest February 2014 page 6
  4. ^ Our Equity Partners Qtectic
  5. ^ Train Dilemma: They should've been made in Maryborough Fraser Coast Chronicle 3 March 2017
  6. ^ a b New Generation Rollingstock Department of Transport & Main Roads
  7. ^ a b "Queensland NGR EMU cars shipped from Mumbai". Railway Gazette International. 1 February 2016.
  8. ^ Queensland's new EMUs land in Brisbane International Railway Journal 17 February 2016
  9. ^ "First Queensland New Generation Rollingstock EMU arrives in Brisbane, maintenance centre officially opened" Railway Digest April 2016 page 30
  10. ^ "Queensland's new trains start to arrive" Track & Signal April 2016 page 39
  11. ^ Queensland Rail. "New trains to first service the Airport and Gold Coast". Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  12. ^ Rollout of QR's problem trains delayed to before the Games Brisbane Times 28 June 2017
  13. ^ "New Generation Rollingstock". translink.com.au. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Timetabling for the Commonwealth Games" Railway Digest June 2018 page 28
  15. ^ NGR trains begin service on Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula lines Railway Digest November 2018 page 18
  16. ^ Johnson, Hayden. "Queensland Rail deploys NGR train to cope with Ipswich line". Queensland Times. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  17. ^ New Generation Rollingstock to roll out to Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula Lines Queensland Rail 27 August 2018
  18. ^ "Queensland Government announces New Generation Rollingstock Inquiry" Railway Digest September 2018 page 21
  19. ^ a b "Extra services for SEQ - March 2020". Queensland Rail. February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  20. ^ Pearce, Connor (February 2020). "NGR to run on North Coast line for first time". Rail Express. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  21. ^ "First NGR set travels to Maryborough for disabled persons' access modifications" (PDF). Railway Digest. March 2019. p. 20. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  22. ^ ""About the NGR trains"". Department of Transport and Main Roads. August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  23. ^ ""Questions on Notice - No. 1781" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. October 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  24. ^ "2017-2018 Annual Performance Report" (PDF). Queensland Rail. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  25. ^ Final train in NGR fleet enters service Rail Express 29 January 2020
  26. ^ News Railway Digest February 2020 page 17
  27. ^ New Generation Rollingstock - Wulkuraka Archived 29 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Queensland Rail
  28. ^ "Work commences on Wulkuraka NGR maintenance centre" Railway Digest June 2014 page 14
  29. ^ Queensland NGR maintenance depot completed Railway Gazette International 12 February 2016
  30. ^ "New Generation Rollingstock trains enter service" Railway Digest January 2018 page 16
  31. ^ New Generation Rollingstock has a tonne of flaws The Courier-Mail 1 November 2016
  32. ^ Queensland Rail's new train order derailed by Jackie Trad over ongoing design problems ABC News 1 March 2017
  33. ^ "Queensland Government halts Bombardier NGR deliveries amidst design issue concerns" Railway Digest April 2017 page 18
  34. ^ Queensland Rail new train deficiencies delaying readiness for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, report finds ABC News 8 August 2017
  35. ^ Queensland to finally accept the first of its new trains Brisbane Times 22 September 2017
  36. ^ Queensland Rail's new rollingstock to cost $150 million to fix design flaws The Courier-Mail 22 September 2017
  37. ^ a b Mark Bailey. "NGR trains on track for Maryborough". Department of Transport and Main Roads. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  38. ^ Labor $150m promise to get Qld trains back on track Sunshine Coast Daily 9 November 2017
  39. ^ Crockford, Toby (29 March 2018). "Human rights exemption for new trains rejected, leaving door open for legal action". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  40. ^ First NGR arrives at Maryborough for rectification works Rail Express 31 January 2019
  41. ^ New Generation Rollingstock accessibility modification contract awarded Railway Digest June 2019 page 5

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