InterCity Express (Queensland Rail)

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InterCity Express
ICE 158.jpg
ICE 158 at Gympie North station in May 2018
ICE Interior.jpg
Interior of an ICE
Stock type Electric multiple unit
In service1988–2021
Manufacturer Walkers
Built at Maryborough
Constructed1987–1989
Entered service1988
Number built20 carriages
Successor New Generation Rollingstock
Formation4–6 carriage sets
Fleet numbers151–158
Capacity222 per 5-carriage set
+4 wheelchair spaces
Operators Queensland Rail
Depots Mayne
Lines served Sunshine Coast (Roma Street to Gympie North)
Specifications
Train length95.6 m (313 ft 8 in)
Car length
  • 23.4 m (76 ft 9 in) (EMD)
  • 23.1 m (75 ft 9 in) (EMM/EMT)
Width2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
Height3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
DoorsManual open, auto-swing close
Wheel diameter840 mm (33 in)
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Weight194 t (191 long tons; 214 short tons) 3-carriage set
Traction system ABB thyristor–phase-fired controller
Traction motors 16 × 135 kW (181 hp) separately excited DC motor
Power output2.16 MW (2,900 hp)
Electric system(s) 25 kV 50 Hz AC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s) Pantograph
UIC classification Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′(+2′2′(+2′2′))+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
Multiple working
  • Within type
  • With EMU
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The InterCity Express (ICE) is a retired class of electric multiple unit manufactured by Walkers in Maryborough for Queensland Rail between 1988 and 1989. They were operated on the Spirit of Capricorn service until 2003 and the Sunshine Coast line service until 2021. They were retired from the Queensland Rail network in 2021.

Contents

History

Introduction

To operate the Spirit of Capricorn between Brisbane and Rockhampton on the North Coast line that was in the process of being electrified, in 1987 Queensland Rail ordered 16 electric multiple unit carriages from Walkers. [1] They were to be eight semi-permanently coupled pairs of a driving motor car (EMD) and a non-driving motor car (EMM) that were planned to operate as four-carriage sets. [2] Electrical equipment was provided by ASEA (later ABB). In 1988 an additional four trailer cars (EMT) were ordered to allow the sets to be built up to five or six carriages. [3] [4] [5]

The first trials were conducted in May 1988, before the first entered service on Sunshine Coast line services from Brisbane to Nambour, operating in multiple with Electric Multiple Units. [6] [7] [8] On 5 February 1989, they began to operate through to Gympie North. [9] [10] On 3 July 1989, they began operating Spirit of Capricorn services to Rockhampton. [11] [12]

In 1998, the faster Electric Tilt Train replaced most Spirit of Capricorn services, with a Saturdays only service continuing. They briefly operated on the Gold Coast line following its extension to Nerang in May 1998 and Robina in November 1998. [13] [14] They were used on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line from January 2000 after the withdrawal of the Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor. [15] [16]

In 2001, all were fitted with power-operated doors. [17] With the withdrawal of the remaining Spirit of Capricorn service from May 2003, they ceased operating north of Gympie North. [18] [19] The mid-2000s saw the sets retrofitted with ditch lights on top of the anticlimber.

Retirement

All units were eventually replaced by the New Generation Rollingstock. In January 2019, the first unit was withdrawn. [20] [21] In November 2021, the last unit was withdrawn. [22] [23] Since withdrawal, units 153 and 157 have been stored at North Ipswich Railway Workshops.

Fleet

TypeClassificationNumber
built		Fleet
numbers
Driving motor carEMD85151–5158
Non-driving motor carEMM86151–6158
TrailerEMT47151–7154

Each half-set numbered 151–158, comprised a semi-permanently coupled driving motor car (EMD) and a non-driving motor car (EMM) that could be built up to five or six carriages with the addition of trailer cars (EMT). [24] In their later years they generally operated as five car sets. In November 1990 an eight car set was operated. [25]

Nomenclature

Driving motor cars 5155 and 5156 were named City of Brisbane and City of Rockhampton to mark the commencement of the Spirit of Capricorn service in July 1989. [26]

References

  1. ↑ Electrification Continental Railway Journal issue 70 June 1987 page 312
  2. ↑ QR's Inter-City Electrics Transit Australia December 1988 pages 251-255
  3. ↑ EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 264 March 1988 page 348
  4. ↑ Further Interurban Trains, Transit Australia, March 1988, p.53
  5. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin , Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 607, May 1988, p.36
  6. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, issue 610, August 1988, p.69
  7. ↑ ICE EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 272 November 1988 page 217
  8. ↑ North Coast Speed-up Transit Australia November 1988 page 243
  9. ↑ ICEs to Gympie Transit Australia February 1989 page 41
  10. ↑ Nambour - Gympie Electrification Commissioning Sunshine Express issue 277 April 1989 page 396
  11. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 622, August 1989, p.194
  12. ↑ Spirit of Capricorn Inauguration Sunshine Express issue 282 September 1989 pages 130-132
  13. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 730, August 1998, p.319
  14. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 736, February 1999, p.77
  15. ↑ QR ICE Set Controversy Railway Digest March 2000 page 14
  16. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 751, May 2000, p.199
  17. ↑ "In Brief", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 761, March 2001, p.107
  18. ↑ "Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 786, April 2003, p.157
  19. ↑ "News in brief", Railway Digest, July 2003, p.11
  20. ↑ "First Queensland New Generation Rollingstock EMU arrives in Brisbane, maintenance centre officially opened", Railway Digest, April 2016, p.31
  21. ↑ QR EMU withdrawals under way and ICE sets' demise commences Railway Digest March 2019 page 18
  22. ↑ "Citytrain fleet". 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Citytrain fleet". www.queenslandrail.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Churchman, Geoffrey (1995). Railway Electrification in Australia & New Zealand. Wellington: IPL Books. p. 149. ISBN   9780646068930.
  25. ↑ ICE Sets Sunshine Express issue 288 March 1990 page 331
  26. ↑ ICE Cars named Transit Australia September 1989 page 203
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