New Generation Rollingstock

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New Generation Rollingstock
NGR 766 at Karrabin station in July 2019
Interior of an NGR
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service2017–present
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atSavli, Gujarat, India
ReplacedElectric Multiple Unit
InterCity Express
Constructed2015–2019
Entered serviceDecember 2017 (2017-12)
Refurbished2019–2024 (accessibility)
Number built75
Number in service75
Formation6-car sets
Fleet numbers701–775
Capacity964. Including 510 standing and 454 seating.
OperatorsQueensland Rail
DepotsWulkuraka
Lines servedAll except Ferny Grove, Beenleigh and Rosewood
Specifications
Train length146.17 m (479 ft 7 in)[1]
Car length
  • 25,085 mm (82 ft 3.6 in) (end cars)
  • 24,000 mm (78 ft 9 in) (intermediate cars)
[1]
Width2,746 mm (9 ft 0.1 in) (including doors)
Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph)
Traction systemIGBT–VVVF (Bombardier MITRAC)
Traction motors3-phase AC induction motor
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
BogiesBombardier FLEXX
Safety system(s)Automatic Warning System European Train Control System
Coupling systemDellner[2]
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) is a class of electric multiple unit manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in India for Queensland Rail between January 2014 and December 2019. They are the largest fleet of electric multiple units to be used in Queensland.

History

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NGR 702 under test at Bowen Hills in March 2017
NGR 702 arriving at Wulkuraka in January 2017
NGR 719 after the disability upgrade has been completed

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.[3][4][5][6] The units were built in Savli, India.[7][8] The units were Queensland Rail's first to be manufactured overseas instead of in Maryborough by Downer Rail (formerly Walkers).[9] In February 2016, the first unit was delivered to the Port of Brisbane.[10][11][12]

In December 2017, the first NGR entered service.[7][13][14][15]

The fleet began operating on the Airport and Gold Coast lines. In May 2018, they began operating on the Doomben line. In September 2018, they began operating on the Redcliffe and Springfield lines.[16] In October 2018, they began operating on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines. In February 2019, they began operating on the Shorncliffe and Cleveland lines. The same month, they became the largest fleet of electric multiple units in Queensland.[17][18][19] In March 2020, they began operating on the Sunshine Coast line as far as Nambour.[20][21]

In January 2020, the last NGR entered service.[22][23]

The fleet are not yet permitted to operate on the Beenleigh, Ferny Grove and Rosewood lines, due to loading gauge clearance issues and platform lengths, respectively.[20][24]

Units 709 and 772 have had ETCS equipment installed and are currently being used to trial QR's ETCS infrastructure.[citation needed]

Fleet

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The NGR fleet is maintained at a purpose built depot to the west of Wulkuraka station.[25][26][27]

Each 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).[citation needed] The driving motor cars are fitted with nose cones for improved aerodynamic performance as opposed to the exposed Scharfenberg couplers used by previous Queensland Rail rolling stock.[8] The body is made up of flat steel panels on the sides and corrugated steel panels on the roof. The units are compatible with the European Train Control System. The units are also noted to have gangway connection doors but are almost never used.

Each unit features high-backed seats, bike storage with safety straps, luggage space underneath the seats, accessible toilets with baby changing table, free WiFi and CCTV.[28] 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 on the existing fleet, where two three-car units couple to form a six-car unit.

Nomenclature

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As the name suggests, "New Generation Rollingstock" was chosen to reflect the next generation of electric multiple units being built to serve the Queensland Rail network. The delivery of the NGR fleet ultimately allowed for the withdrawal of the InterCity Express and Electric Multiple Unit fleets in 2021 and 2025, respectively.

Accessibility

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The trains received media attention over a series of issues such as the toilet module size falling short by 12 mm (0.47 in), and the inability for a wheelchair to access the toilet from one of the two accessible cars.

Work to rectify the non-compliant parts of the trains was performed by Downer Rail's Maryborough facility.[29] After an exemption application to the Australian Human Rights Commission was rejected, the need for rectification was clear.[30] It was determined that the position of the boarding ramps next to the train door was the reason for the toilet module not meeting DDA’s minimum size requirements. The first, 735, arrived at Maryborough for rectification work in January 2019 and the last, 771, in late April 2024.[citation needed] The project was completed in July 2024.[31][32]

The new toilet module (left) versus the original toilet module (right). Not only has it moved further forward but the handle and signs have been rearranged. The boarding ramp was also moved to be behind the module

The rectification work solves the disability access problem by providing a toilet module for both centre (wheelchair accessible) cars.[33] This means that wheelchairs no longer have to travel around the toilets to access them from behind.[33] No major changes were made to the general seating other than recovering some of the seats with priority labelling including some transverse seats with high backs and no arm rests.[33]

More help points were added in the space between the two toilet modules.[33]

The toilet modules were made disability compliant by moving the toilet front side and door at least 12 mm (0.47 in) closer to the external doors, while leaving the toilet bowl in the original location.[33] Labelling and other minor changes were made in the toilet module as well, such as the installation of lights that warn in the event of an evacuation.[33]

These trains can be easily identified by the large priority stickers on the windows all along the train. More stickers are present within the train as well.

Some changes were made to signage throughout the train on the advice of disability groups; purportedly as "better wording" but the differences would be minor to the average person - intended instead for the minority of people with literacy difficulties (see difference between green emergency door release wording above).

[edit]
  • NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage longitudinal seating with priority seats coloured red.
    NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage longitudinal seating with priority seats coloured red.
  • NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage allocated space and communication devices.
    NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage allocated space and communication devices.
  • NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage toilet pan and flush control.
    NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage toilet pan and flush control.
  • NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage toilet washbasin and sensor controls.
    NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage toilet washbasin and sensor controls.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Queensland New Generation Rollingstock (NGR), Australia". Bombardier. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Dellner Australia's Footprint" (PDF). Dellner. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. ^ Bombardier Consortium Wins Multi-billion Contract for Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project Archived 12 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine Bombardier 29 January 2014
  4. ^ Bombardier NRG Consortium wins $4.4bn contract for Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project Archived 21 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Urbanalyst 4 February 2014
  5. ^ "Bombardier-led consortium is Queensland New Generation Rollingstock contract winner" Railway Digest February 2014 page 6
  6. ^ Our Equity Partners Archived 21 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Qtectic
  7. ^ a b New Generation Rollingstock Archived 5 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Department of Transport & Main Roads
  8. ^ a b "Queensland NGR EMU cars shipped from Mumbai". Railway Gazette International. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  9. ^ Train Dilemma: They should've been made in Maryborough Archived 21 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Fraser Coast Chronicle 3 March 2017
  10. ^ Queensland's new EMUs land in Brisbane Archived 11 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine International Railway Journal 17 February 2016
  11. ^ "First Queensland New Generation Rollingstock EMU arrives in Brisbane, maintenance centre officially opened" Railway Digest April 2016 page 30
  12. ^ "Queensland's new trains start to arrive" Track & Signal April 2016 page 39
  13. ^ Queensland Rail. "New trains to first service the Airport and Gold Coast". Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  14. ^ Rollout of QR's problem trains delayed to before the Games Archived 21 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Times 28 June 2017
  15. ^ "New Generation Rollingstock". translink.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  16. ^ NGR trains begin service on Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula lines Railway Digest November 2018 page 18
  17. ^ Johnson, Hayden. "Queensland Rail deploys NGR train to cope with Ipswich line". Queensland Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  18. ^ New Generation Rollingstock to roll out to Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula Lines Queensland Rail 27 August 2018
  19. ^ "Queensland Government announces New Generation Rollingstock Inquiry" Railway Digest September 2018 page 21
  20. ^ a b "Extra services for SEQ - March 2020". Queensland Rail. February 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  21. ^ Pearce, Connor (February 2020). "NGR to run on North Coast line for first time". Rail Express. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  22. ^ Final train in NGR fleet enters service Rail Express 29 January 2020
  23. ^ News Railway Digest February 2020 page 17
  24. ^ "First NGR set travels to Maryborough for disabled persons' access modifications" (PDF). Railway Digest. March 2019. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  25. ^ New Generation Rollingstock - Wulkuraka Archived 29 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Queensland Rail
  26. ^ "Work commences on Wulkuraka NGR maintenance centre" Railway Digest June 2014 page 14
  27. ^ Queensland NGR maintenance depot completed Archived 10 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 12 February 2016
  28. ^ "New Generation Rollingstock trains enter service" Railway Digest January 2018 page 16
  29. ^ Labor $150m promise to get Qld trains back on track Archived 24 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Sunshine Coast Daily 9 November 2017
  30. ^ Crockford, Toby (29 March 2018). "Human rights exemption for new trains rejected, leaving door open for legal action". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  31. ^ First NGR arrives at Maryborough for rectification works Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 31 January 2019
  32. ^ New Generation Rollingstock accessibility modification contract awarded Railway Digest June 2019 page 5
  33. ^ a b c d e f Clark, Simon (16 August 2021). "NGR rectification photos". Personal. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
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Media related to New Generation Rollingstock at Wikimedia Commons