Engineering, Passenger Rail, Rail Supply, Rolling stock & Rail Vehicle Design

Details on Intercity Fleet revealed

Example of intercity rolling stock (indicative only). Photo: Transport for NSW

The contract to supply NSW with a fleet of new intercity trains is being contested by four shortlisted parties. A Transport for NSW spokesperson shared more details with Rail Express.

The spokesperson confirmed the new Intercity Fleet will replace the “aging” V-set trains.

NSW TrainLink has roughly 196 V-set cars left in its fleet. The V-sets, typically arranged in 4-car sets, were built between 1970 and 1989 by Commonwealth Engineering (a.k.a. Comeng), at its now-demolished Granville factory.

The spokesperson explained the new Intercity Fleet will also allow H-set ‘Oscars’ to replace S-set trains on the Sydney Trains network.

Built by UGL Rail at its Broadmeadow factory between 2006 and 2012, 55 four-carriage Oscar sets are shared between Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink.

S-set trains, once prevalent on the Sydney Trains network, have been being phased out rapidly over the last decade.

Four candidates were shortlisted to deliver the new Intercity Fleet earlier this month. Those shortlisted to tender are:

  • Alstom Transport Australia
  • Downer-CNRCRC Consortium, comprising Downer EDI Rail and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles
  • Stadler Bussnang
  • UGL/MEA/CSR Consortium, comprising UGL Rail Services, Mitsubishi Electric Australia and CSR Corporation

The spokesperson confirmed three other parties submitted EOIs, but were not shortlisted. The following companies were listed by Tenders NSW as EOI respondents, but are not represented on the shortlist:

  • Bombardier Transportation Australia
  • Construcciones Y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF)
  • Hyundai Rotem

“Transport for NSW is looking to procure a standard product that can be configured specifically for NSW’s rail network,” the spokesperson told Rail Express.

“It is up to each tenderer to propose how to configure the carriages, as long as their responses meet the needs and requirements set out by Transport for NSW in the tender documents.”

The tender calls for 520 cars, or equivalent, to be delivered under the contract.

“Transport for NSW is continuing to engage with industry on the Intercity Fleet tender to ensure we have the right solution for our customers,” the spokesperson continued.

“Procurement for the new fleet is being undertaken via an open tender process to maximise competition and ensure that NSW taxpayers receive value for money.

“The New Intercity Fleet will be Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) and the first train is expected to be in service by 2019 with the delivery of the fleet complete by 2024.”

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