New South Wales XPT
XP 2016 at Central station
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel
BuilderComeng, Granville
ABB, Dandenong
Build date1981–1994
Total produced19
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo-Bo
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
BogiesPJA
Wheel diameter1.02 m (3 ft 4 in)
Length17.35 m (56 ft 11 in)
Width2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height4.22 m (13 ft 10 in)
Axle load19 t (19 long tons; 21 short tons)
Loco weight76 t (75 long tons; 84 short tons)
Prime mover
Engine typediesel
Traction motors4 × Brush TMH68-46 MkIII 373 kW (500 hp) 65:20 gear ratio
Cylinders12
TransmissionDiesel-electric
CouplersKnuckle
Performance figures
Maximum speed
  • 160 km/h (99 mph) (service)
  • 193 km/h (120 mph) (record)
  • 200 km/h (120 mph) (design)
Power output1,492 kW (2,001 hp) per power car
Career
OperatorsNSW TrainLink
NumbersXP2000–XP2017, XP2019
First run8 April 1982

The New South Wales XPT (short for eXpress Passenger Train) is a class of diesel-powered passenger trains built by Comeng and ABB. Based on the British Rail-designed High Speed Train, each XPT set comprises two XP power cars in a push-pull configuration and, between them, between four and seven passenger carriages.[1] The first sets entered service under the State Rail Authority in 1982 and now operate under NSW TrainLink, running on long-distance regional and interstate North Coast, Main Western and Main Southern lines throughout New South Wales and interstate into Victoria and Queensland.

History

Development

Improving public transport was a major issue in the 1976 New South Wales state election. One of the commitments of the incoming Wran government was to buy new rolling stock for country rail services.[2][3]

In January 1978, the Public Transport Commission invited tenders for 25 high-speed railcars similar to Western Australia's Prospector railcars delivered by Comeng in 1971. The tender allowed bidders to suggest alternative types of high-speed train. Comeng submitted a tender for a train based on the British Rail designed High Speed Train, which had entered service in the United Kingdom in 1976. In August 1979, Comeng was announced as the successful bidder and although the tender had called for 100 vehicles, by the time the contract was signed in March 1980, the order was only for 30: 10 power cars and 20 carriages, enough to form four five-carriage trains with two spare power cars.[4][5][6][7][8]

Locomotives and passenger cars of the XPT (click to enlarge)

The High Speed Train design was significantly modified, with the power cars being 50 cm (19.7 in) shorter, the Paxman Valenta engine downrated from 2250 to 2000 bhp (1680 to 1490 kW), gearing lowered for a top operating speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), suspension modified to operate on inferior track, and air filters and a cooling system modified to cater for hotter, dustier Australian conditions. The passenger cars, built to a loading gauge bigger than that of railways in Britain, were based on a Budd design.[6] The XPT is theoretically capable of reaching speeds of 200 km/h (124 mph).[9]

In service

XP2007, in the first CountryLink livery, at Central station in May 2009

The first power car and trailer commenced testing with a stainless steel luggage van in August 1981.[10] The initial XPT livery was red, black and orange with InterCity XPT signwriting on the power cars. On a demonstration run to Albury on 6 September 1981 the XPT set a new Australian rail speed record of 183 km/h between Table Top and Gerogery in southern NSW, breaking that set by the Western Australian Government Railways' Prospector railcar in 1971. On a test run to Albury on 18 September 1992 the XPT reached 193 km/h between Table Top and Yerong Creek.[11][12] This record was broken by Queensland Rail's Electric Tilt Train in May 1999.[13]

The first full test XPT set ran in January 1982. The four sets entered service on the Central West XPT to Dubbo in April 1982, the Mid North Coast XPT to Kempsey in May 1982 and the Riverina XPT to Albury in August 1982.[6]

In 1983, a further five power cars and 15 trailers were ordered. These allowed the Canberra XPT to commence in August 1983 followed by the Northern Tablelands XPT to Glen Innes and Tenterfield (2 times per week only) in June 1984.[14] The XPT cut 50 minutes off the trip between Sydney and Canberra.[15] By tightening up the diagrams, an overnight South XPT to Albury was introduced, but cancelled in June 1985 due to low patronage.[16][17][18] In 1985 an additional 12 trailer carriages were ordered to allow six sets of 7 carriages to be formed.[19][20] From October 1985, the Mid North Coast XPT to Kempsey ceased, being replaced by the Holiday Coast XPT to Grafton. The Northern Tablelands XPT also was cut back to Armidale and only ran on alternate days with a HUB/RUB set operating on the other days.[21]

Initially the XPT carried a fare surcharge compared to parallel locomotive hauled services; however this was abolished from May 1985.[22]

It was proposed to extend operations to Melbourne with costs to be shared with V/Line. A five-carriage promotional train ran to Melbourne on Sunday 17 February 1985, running four free return shuttles to Tullamarine Loop.[23] Crew training commenced on the North East line between Albury and Benalla in July 1985 with services scheduled to commence on 3 August, however agreement could not be reached with the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees over crewing and the plan was shelved.[24][25][26] Another promotional train ran to Melbourne in November 1990.[27]

Following the election of the Greiner government in March 1988, consultants Booz Allen Hamilton were commissioned to prepare a report into NSW rail services. On purely economic grounds, the report recommended closing all country passenger services as they were judged unviable; however this was not politically acceptable.[28] If services were to be maintained, the report recommended operating a reduced rail service, all with XPTs.

In February 1990, the Brisbane Limited and Pacific Coast Motorail were withdrawn and replaced by XPT services to Brisbane and Murwillumbah. To provide rolling stock for these, the Canberra XPT was withdrawn and replaced by a locomotive hauled train and the Northern Tablelands Express was truncated to become a day return service to Tamworth.[29][30]

In June 1990, the government announced that it would purchase a fleet of Xplorers to reintroduce services to Armidale and Moree. When these were introduced in October 1993 the Northern Tablelands XPT ceased and the stock replaced a locomotive hauled set on a service to Grafton.[31]

XPT in the second CountryLink livery at Gunning in March 2009

In October 1990, the government announced that eight sleeper carriages would be ordered for use on overnight services to Brisbane, Murwillumbah and Melbourne.[32][33] These were included in an order placed with ABB in 1991 for four power cars and 13 trailers that was jointly funded by the New South Wales and Victorian governments.[34][35][36][37] At the same time the earlier stock was repainted in CountryLink livery.[38] The power cars were repainted by Clyde Engineering at Kelso while the carriages were done in Breemar.[39][40]

In November 1993, XPTs replaced locomotive hauled stock on the overnight Sydney/Melbourne Express.[41] In December 1994 an XPT daylight service to Melbourne was introduced by extending the Riverina XPT from Albury.[42]

In 1995, CountryLink trialled three Swedish Railways X2000 tilting train carriages. After conducting a statewide tour in March, they were used on Canberra services from 23 April until 18 June 1995 with modified XPT power cars XP2000 and XP2009.[43]

Since 2003, an XPT has operated a service each January to Parkes for the Parkes Elvis Festival.[44][45] With the closure of the Murwillumbah line, the XPT service was cut back to Casino from May 2004.[46][47] In October 2013, with a set isolated west of Lithgow by bushfires, it was deployed on the Outback Xplorer service to Broken Hill.[48]

Fleet

XP power cars

A total of 19 XP power cars were built, originally powered by a Paxman Valenta 12RP200L engine with a single turbocharger. These were replaced from June 2000 by Paxman VP185 12-cylinder, diesel engines with four low-pressure turbochargers and two high-pressure turbochargers boasting 1,492 kW or 2,001 horsepower that had been successfully used by some British Rail High Speed Trains since 1994.[49][50] Traction equipment was manufactured in England by Brush Traction of Loughborough.

Power cars comprise five main compartments at the platform level. At the front is the drivers' cab, followed by the clean air compartment, engine room, cooling group, and compressor room at the rear of the locomotive.

The XP power cars were named after cities and towns that the XPT served:[51]

In November 2022 power car XP2011 was named "Kimbo" in honour of retiring driver Kim Andronicus. Sometime between October and December 2023, power car XP2008 received the name “2 Dads”. Both XP2011 and XP2008 display their names as decals under the side cab windows.

XP2000–XP2014 were built by Comeng, Granville with XP2015–XP2018 built by ABB, Dandenong.

Carriages

New South Wales XPT carriage stock
XPT carriages at Central railway station
Interior of an economy XF carriage
In service1982–present
ManufacturerComeng, ABB
Built atGranville, Dandenong
Constructed1981–1993
Refurbished1992–1993, 2005–2008
Number built60
Number in service58
Number scrapped2
SuccessorNew Regional Fleet
Formation4–7 carriages
Fleet numbers
  • XAM2175–2178, 2180–2182
  • XL2228, 2230–2235
  • XBR2150–2158
  • XF2200–2223
  • XFH2104–2110, XFH2112–13
OperatorsNSW TrainLink
DepotsXPT Service Centre
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Car length24.2 m (79 ft 4+3⁄4 in)
Width2.92 m (9 ft 7 in)
Height4.04 m (13 ft 3 in)
Doors2 per side, hinged slam
Maximum speed160 km/h (100 mph) (service)
Weight40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons)
Axle load6.5 t (6.4 long tons; 7.2 short tons)
Power supply415 V 3-phase AC 50 Hz
UIC classification2′2′
BogiesNHA
Braking system(s)Disc, air operated
Coupling systemKnuckle
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The XPT carriages were refurbished in 1992/93 including a repaint in CountryLink livery.[38] All were refurbished again between 2005 and 2008.[52][53][54][55]

After two carriages were written off after the Wallan derailment in 2020, UGL Rail was contracted to convert two XF economy sitting cars to an XAM sleeper and XBR first buffet.[56][57]

As at June 2023, the carriage fleet of 58 carriages comprised[58]

  • 7 Sleeping cars: XAM2175-2178, 2180–2182
  • 8 First class saloon cars XL 2228–2236
  • 8 First class saloon/buffet cars XBR 2150–2158
  • 25 Economy class saloon cars XF2200-2223
  • 9 Economy class saloon/luggage cars XFH 2104–2110, 2112, 2113

Formations

Initially, all services operated with five carriage sets. Following the purchase of extra carriages, this was increased to seven. In 1998, each set was reduced to six carriages.[59] In 2001, all were reduced to five carriages outside of school holiday periods.[60][61] Today, XPTs operate with four carriages to Dubbo (formed from the country end as XL, XBR, XF and XFH), and five (formed from the country end as XAM, XL, XBR, XF and XFH) on the North Coast and Melbourne services, with six during peak times when an extra XF is added (formed from the country end as XAM, XL, XBR, XF, XF and XFH) The Dubbo set can operate with one power car if required, with the power car turned at its destination.

Depot

The XPT fleet is maintained at the XPT Service Centre, a purpose built depot south of Sydenham station within the confines of the Meeks Road Triangle. All work is performed here except for wheel reprofiling which is performed on a wheel lathe at Flemington Maintenance Depot.

Accidents and incidents

On 3 May 1991, an XPT locomotive derailed at Henty, injuring the driver and six passengers.[62]

On 27 January 2001, an XPT collided with a car on a level crossing in the Gerogery level crossing accident. Five people in the car were killed, and the train was derailed.[63]

On 20 February 2020, a Sydney to Melbourne bound XPT derailed in the Wallan derailment, killing the train's driver and pilot and injuring twelve.[64][65] The leading powercar, XP2018 was rebuilt as XP2019, re-entering service in February 2023.[66] Two carriages were written off.[57]

Replacement

In October 2016, the NSW government announced the XPTs would be replaced as part of the NSW TrainLink Regional Train Project.[67][68][69][70][71] A contract with CAF was signed February in 2019, with the XPTs to be replaced with bi-mode Civity trains.[72] Originally scheduled to enter service in 2023, the new trains have been delayed.[73]

Services

The XPT fleet is currently used on services from Sydney to Grafton, Casino, Brisbane, Dubbo and Melbourne.[74][75][76]

Operating cycle

The Dubbo set is captive and operates a daily return service. The other seven sets rotate on a seven-day repeating cycle as follows:[77]

  • Day 1: 07:42 Sydney to Melbourne arrives 18:30, forms 19:50 Melbourne to Sydney
  • Day 2: arrives Sydney 06:58, forms 11:41 Sydney to Grafton arrives 22:15
  • Day 3: 05:15 Grafton to Sydney arrives 15:45, forms 20:42 to Melbourne
  • Day 4: arrives in Melbourne 07:30, forms 08:30 to Sydney arrives 19:59
  • Day 5: 07:08 Sydney to Casino arrives 18:41, forms 19:30 Casino to Sydney
  • Day 6: arrives Sydney 07:01, forms 14:41 Sydney to Brisbane
  • Day 7: arrives Brisbane 04:53, forms 05:55 Brisbane to Sydney arrives 20:10

Between each duty in Sydney, trains are serviced at the XPT Service Centre south of Sydenham station. This pattern has led to the XPT being one of the most utilised train fleets worldwide with only three significant periods of downtime in the cycle. This includes one overnight stabling in Grafton, between days 2 and 3, and two overnight stablings in Sydney, between days 4 and 5, and days 7 and 1.

Potential export sale

In 1986, agreement was reached to build a fleet of XPTs for the State Railway of Thailand. To allow it to be built to the narrower 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge and retain the same fuel capacity, it was proposed to extend the power cars by 2.7 to 20 metres (8 ft 10 in to 65 ft 7 in) and mount them on Bo′Bo′Bo′ bogies. The negotiations were sufficiently advanced for the Prime Minister of Thailand to announce it on television, however the Australian Department of Trade withdrew its support at the last moment and the deal fell through.[37][78][79]

References

  1. ↑ Transport for NSW, Customer Experience Division. "XPT Regional Trains". transportnsw.info. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. ↑ New Trains for Country Services Network March 1979 page 16
  3. ↑ XPT – New South Wales' political train Modern Railways issue 399 December 1981 pages 544–546
  4. ↑ "NSW gives country passengers a break" Railway Gazette International March 1979 page 210
  5. ↑ "HST begets XPT" Railway Gazette International June 1980 pages 511/512
  6. 1 2 3 Cooke, David (1984). Railmotors and XPTs. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. ISBN 0-909650-23-3.
  7. ↑ Marsden, Colin (2001). HST Silver Jubilee. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-711028-47-8.
  8. ↑ "XPT Australia's train of tomorrow" Rail September 1982 pages 40-42
  9. ↑ "To find out what the XPT can do". Canberra Times. 13 June 1981. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  10. ↑ "Here & There" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 528 October 1981 page 81
  11. ↑ CountryLink Triumph – New Speed Record Freight Rail & Countrylink Xpress issue 33 November 1992 pages 2/3
  12. ↑ "The making of an XPT speed record" Railway Digest November 1992 page 417
  13. ↑ "QR Tilt Train Sets Australian Rail Speed Record" Railway Digest June 1999 page 15
  14. ↑ "XPTs Take Over Northern Tablelands Express and South Mail" Railway Digest July 1984 page 222
  15. ↑ "Canberra XPT service". Canberra Times. 3 February 1982. p. 1. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  16. ↑ Union criticises axing of Sydney-Albury XPT Archived 1 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 24 June 1985 page 3
  17. ↑ "Country Train and Coach Changes" Railway Digest August 1985 page 229
  18. ↑ "The XPT Turns 15" Railway Digest April 1997 page 43
  19. ↑ "XPT Cars Ordered" Railway Digest October 1985 page 297
  20. ↑ "In Brief" Railway Gazette International October 1985 page 737
  21. ↑ "More Timetable Changes" Railway Digest November 1985 page 327
  22. ↑ "XPT Fares Reduced" Railway Digest April 1985 page 98
  23. ↑ XPT visit Newsrail April 1985 pages 115, 117
  24. ↑ XPT Interstate Trains Archived 1 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 16 July 1985 page 12
  25. ↑ XPT Crew Training in Victoria Newsrail October 1985 page 306
  26. ↑ Two years late Newsrail May 1986 page 146
  27. ↑ ??? Newsrail March 1991 page 69
  28. ↑ "CountryLink 2000" Railway Digest August 1989 page 262
  29. ↑ Canberra XPT can't be saved Archived 1 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 24 January 1990 page 7
  30. ↑ "The New Timetable" Railway Digest March 1990 page 94
  31. ↑ "Xplorer Enters Service" Railway Digest November 1993 page 458
  32. ↑ "XPT sleepers for North Coast trains" Railway Digest November 1990 page 385
  33. ↑ "XPT revamp" Railway Gazette International November 1990 page 823
  34. ↑ "NSW/Vic to share XPTs" Railway Digest January 1991 page 7
  35. ↑ "Sydney-Melbourne to go XPT" Railway Gazette International January 1991 page 9
  36. ↑ "XPT trailer cars to be built in Victoria" Railway Digest August 1991 page 273
  37. 1 2 Dunn, John (2013). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 5 1985–2012. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 13–15, 203–219. ISBN 9781922013521.
  38. 1 2 New Colours for Australia'a XPT The Railway Magazine issue 1085 September 1991 page 607
  39. ↑ XPT Repaints Railway Digest May 1991 page 160
  40. ↑ XPT repainting program completed Railway Digest August 1992 page 290
  41. ↑ "Major Passenger Train Changes Commence this Month" Railway Digest November 1993 page 466
  42. ↑ "Sydney-Melbourne Daylight XPT Commences This Month" Railway Digest December 1994 page 7
  43. ↑ "So why do you call it a tilt train?" Railway Digest July 1995 page 30
  44. ↑ "Elvis Express" Railway Digest March 2006 page 57
  45. ↑ All aboard the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express train NSW TrainLink 8 January 2014
  46. ↑ "Murwillumbah XPT to end – line faces closure" Railway Digest June 2004 page 6
  47. ↑ Closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail service Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine NSW Parliament 24 November 2004
  48. ↑ Australian Railways Illustrated December 2013 page 8
  49. ↑ "MTU looks at IC125 power" Rail Business Intelligence issue 118 20 January 2000 page 6
  50. ↑ "Market" Railway Gazette International April 2000 page 210
  51. ↑ An Express Passenger Train 40 years – Part 2 Australian Railway History issue 1007 January 2022 pages 4–13
  52. ↑ "Enhancements underway for CountryLink's XPT fleet" Railway Digest March 2005 page 6
  53. ↑ "XPT Passenger Cars new livery in service" Railway Digest February 2006 page 12
  54. ↑ "The CountryLink XPT Refurbishment" Railway Digest July 2006 pages 22–27
  55. ↑ "XPT carriage refurbishment completed" Railway Digest October 2008 page 9
  56. ↑ Rolling Stock contracts and deliveries Railway Digest April 2022 page 50
  57. 1 2 XPT power car XP2018 from Wallan derailment returns to service as XP2019, two XF economy to XAM and XBR underway at UGL Unipart Railway Digest April 2023 page 10
  58. ↑ The locomotive hauled passenger car fleet Railway Digest July 2023 page 47
  59. ↑ "Asian Downturn Hits CountryLink – XPTs Shed Cars" Railway Digest June 1998 page 9
  60. ↑ "Countrylink News – XPTs cut to five cars & Xplorers to Broken Hill?" Railway Digest June 2001 page 7
  61. ↑ "Here & There" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 765 July 2001 page 273
  62. ↑ "XPT locomotive derailed, driver, six passengers hurt". The Canberra Times. 5 May 1991. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  63. ↑ "Riding a slow train to nowhere". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  64. ↑ "Two people die after passenger train derails near Wallan north of Melbourne". ABC News. 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  65. ↑ "'It was horrendous': Derailed train passengers were tossed around in crash". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  66. ↑ Motive Power Roundup Motive Power issue 146 March 2023 page 58
  67. ↑ New NSW country fleet procurement to begin in 2017 Archived 24 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 31 October 2016
  68. ↑ NSW fleet replacement accelerated Archived 24 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 31 October 2016
  69. ↑ First steps taken to deliver new XPT fleet Archived 20 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 1 March 2017
  70. ↑ Process kicks off to replace XPTs Archived 24 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 1 March 2017
  71. ↑ "Shortlist announced for NSW regional fleet renewal" International Railway Journal 4 December 2017
  72. ↑ CAF to replace New South Wales regional train fleet Railway Gazette International 14 February 2019
  73. ↑ NSW’s $2.6b train fleet running three years late, confidential documents show Sydney Morning Herald 29 September 2022
  74. ↑ Western timetable Archived 17 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine NSW TrainLink
  75. ↑ North Coast timetable Archived 17 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine NSW TrainLink
  76. ↑ Southern timetable Archived 1 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine NSW TrainLink
  77. ↑ "Xtra Precise Timing: Secrets of the XPT roster" Railway Digest April 2002 pages 20/21
  78. ↑ "Comeng poised to win deal". Newsrail. Vol. 13, no. 10. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. October 1985. p. 302. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  79. ↑ "Thai train deal". Newsrail. Vol. 14, no. 2. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. February 1986. p. 52. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.

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