The C sets were originally built as Series 3 K sets. The second order of K sets, which were Series 2, originally composed of 100 cars; 50 motor cars numbered C3551 to C3600, and 50 trailer cars numbered T4217 to T4266, but this was later reduced to 60 cars, with the remaining 40 cars (C3581-C3600 and T4247-T4266) placed in a new order for "Series 3 K sets". A further 16 cars were later built; 8 motor cars numbered C3601-C3608 and 8 trailer cars numbered T4267-T4274. The Series 3 K sets (later C sets) featured chopper control as an interim measure due to delays with the Tangara program. They were also used to train and familiarise staff with the new (at the time) chopper technology.[2] These K sets were the first Sydney suburban trains to be fitted with chopper control, which gives the train smoother acceleration. Gate turn-off thyristors (GTO) were used to control power to the traction motors, hence allowing for smoother acceleration.[3] Following the successful implementation of chopper control, these features were installed on the Tangara and later V set carriages (DJM carraiges).
The C set carriages were also the first on the suburban network to feature fixed seating (originally covered with fabric, since replaced with vinyl).[3] These cars also featured push-button doors requiring passengers to activate, to increase air-conditioning efficiency. These proved unpopular and the push-buttons on the doors were removed.
The C set was distinguished externally by a fibreglass moulding mounted on the front of the power carriage. It was originally in the State Rail Authority white with orange and red candy livery stripes on the lower portion. C3596 was the only power car to have its Candy-liveried front repainted in CityRail blue and yellow prior to its CityDecker refurbishment in 1998. The chopper cars were amongst the heaviest in the suburban fleet, with the power cars weighing 52 tonnes.
The chopper cars were originally classed as Series 3 K sets and for a while when they entered service, they ran together with the then-force ventilated K sets. This however caused problems in service as force-ventilated cars were fitted with camshaft control and led to jerking while accelerating. By December 1990, they had been separated into their own class retargeted as C sets; C42–C54.[5] In January 1991, these were reformed as 6-car sets numbered C1–C8.[5] By June 1991, all had been transferred to Hornsby Maintenance Depot.[6]
One carriage, C3596 of set C6, was painted in a livery having its fibre-glass front being painted in CityRail colours, with the L7 logo.
During the late 1990s, all were refurbished by A Goninan & Co as part of the CityDecker program. This saw the interiors refurbished with white walls and ceilings, grey floors and blue seats. Power cars received a destination indicator and had the yellow apron livery applied which includes a grey front with yellow over the bottom half.
In 2001, the C sets were once again reformed into seven 8-car sets. A 6-car C Set was re-formed in late 2006 due to car T4262 being seriously damaged by an arson attack at Villawood in October 2006, however the full 8-car set later went back in operation.
In July 2017, asbestos was found in the circuit breaker panels, which was inside the driver compartment of the C sets, with all withdrawn for inspection.[7]
From November 2017 until they were retired from service, all C Sets operated out of Flemington Maintenance Depot.
Prior to their retirement, C sets operated on the following lines:
C5 on its final farewell tour, at Mount Victoria, March 2021
The C sets were gradually phased out from September 2020 to February 2021, being replaced by B sets.[2] The C sets ran their final revenue timetabled service on 26 February 2021 on the Airport & South Line.[2] A farewell to the C Sets tour by the Sydney Electric Train Society took place on 6 March 2021 visiting Mount Victoria and Hawkesbury River.[2][8][9][10]
Two C sets (C1 and C5) remained as standby sets for emergencies from their retirement until 30 April 2021.[2][11]
Two carriages, C3581 and T4272 were sent to Fire and Rescue NSW on 6 May 2021 for training purposes.[12]
On 12 July 2021, three of the four remaining C Sets were transferred from Flemington to Chullora for scrapping.
Preservation
In July 2021, the Sydney Electric Train Society (SETS) announced that they would be preserving four carriages for heritage.[11] These carriages were taken from sets C5 and C9. It is intended that they will be operational for tours operated by SETS, including the Great Northern Chopper Tour, which was initially scheduled for 28 August 2021, but was postponed due to COVID-19, with no new date announced since.[10]
The Sydney Trains M sets, also referred to as the Millennium trains, are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) that operate on the Sydney Trains network. Built by EDi Rail between 2002 and 2005, the first sets initially entered service under the CityRail brand on 1 July 2002 after short delays due to electrical defects. The M sets were built as "fourth generation" trains for Sydney's suburban rail fleet, replacing the 1960s Tulloch carriages and providing extra capacity on the suburban rail network. The sets currently operate on the T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West, T5 Cumberland, T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown, T7 Olympic Park and T8 Airport & South lines.
The T sets, also referred to as the Tangara trains, are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) that currently operate on the Sydney Trains network. Built by A Goninan & Co, the sets entered service between 1988 and 1995, initially under the State Rail Authority and later on CityRail. The T sets were built as "third-generation" trains for Sydney's rail fleet, coinciding with the final withdrawals of the "Red Rattler" sets from service in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Tangaras were initially built as two classes; the long-distance intercity G sets and the suburban T sets, before being merged after successive refurbishments.
The K sets are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) that currently operate on the Sydney Trains suburban network. Built by A Goninan & Co, the K sets first entered service in 1981 operating under the State Rail Authority, and later CityRail. The carriages are of stainless steel, double deck construction and share much of their design with the older S sets. All of the 40 K sets originally built remain in service but one 4 car set. The K sets are currently the second oldest in the Sydney Trains fleet, and the oldest in the Suburban fleet.
The S sets are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) that operated on Sydney's suburban rail network from 1972 up until 2019. Originally entering service under the Public Transport Commission, the sets also operated under the State Rail Authority, CityRail and Sydney Trains. Prior to their retirement, the S sets were the last class in the Sydney Trains fleet to not be air-conditioned, earning them the nicknames "Tin cans" and "Sweat Sets". They were also nicknamed "Ridgys" because of their fluted ("ridged") stainless steel panelling; they shared this nickname with similar looking K sets and C sets. Their stainless steel appearance was also shared with the intercity V sets and U sets. All remaining sets were withdrawn from service in June 2019.
The New South Wales V sets are a class of electric multiple units currently operated by Sydney Trains on its intercity routes. Built by Comeng between 1970 and 1989, the sets are of stainless steel construction, and are currently the oldest in the electric fleet of NSW. First delivered under the Department of Railways, only sets from 1977 and onwards remain in service, now operating on Intercity services to Lithgow and Newcastle.
UGL Rail is an Australian rail company specialising in building, maintaining and refurbishing diesel locomotives, diesel and electric multiple units and freight wagons. It is a subsidiary of UGL and is based in Melbourne, with a staff of 1,200 across Australia and Asia. It operates factories in Broadmeadow (Newcastle), Spotswood and Bassendean. While it used to operate a factory in Taree, the plant was shut down and the equipment sold off.
The Sydney Trains fleet serves the metropolitan and intercity lines within Sydney, Australia. Most of the rolling stock are double-deck electric multiple units, while some are single-deck diesel multiple units and operate mainly as eight carriage sets, with some operating in four.
The New South Wales H sets, commonly referred to as the OSCAR trains, are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) currently operated by Sydney Trains on its intercity routes and some Sydney suburban routes. Built by UGL Rail in Broadmeadow, the H sets first entered service under the CityRail brand in December 2006, with the last in December 2012. Their introduction allowed for the retirement of some second-class V set carriages. As long-distance trains, the H sets share a similar overall layout and design to the previous Intercity Tangara G sets. Currently operating as 55 four-carriage sets, the H sets now operate between Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle and between Sydney and the South Coast.
The Hunter railcars, are a class of diesel multiple unit (DMU) operated by NSW TrainLink on the Hunter Line in New South Wales, Australia. Built by UGL Rail between November 2006 and September 2007, they initially operated for CityRail. The railcars have received only one refurbishment in their years of service. This changed their livery from CityRail, to NSW TrainLink.
The Flemington Maintenance Depot is the largest Sydney Trains depot, located in the western Sydney suburb of Lidcombe, but named after the suburb of Flemington further east.
The Punchbowl Maintenance Depot was a train storage and maintenance depot in the south-western Sydney suburb of Punchbowl.
The railways of New South Wales, Australia, use a large variety of passenger and freight rolling stock. The first railway in Sydney was opened in 1855 between Sydney and Granville, now a suburb of Sydney but then a major agricultural centre. The railway formed the basis of the New South Wales Government Railways. Passenger and freight services were operated from the beginning. By 1880, there was a half hourly service to Homebush.
The New South Wales XPT 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.
The Electric multiple unit (EMU) is a class of electric multiple units manufactured by Walkers at Maryborough for Queensland Rail between 1979 and 1986. They were the first EMUs in Queensland and are progressively being retired from the Queensland Rail Citytrain network.
The U sets were a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between September 1958 and November 1996. They were colloquially nicknamed U-boats.
Sydney Trains is the brand name and operator of suburban and intercity train services centring on Greater Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.
The New South Wales Tulloch suburban carriage stock were a type of electric multiple unit operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1940 and 1992. In their later years, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers.
The New South Wales Sputnik suburban carriage stock is a type of electric multiple unit that was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1957 and 1993 and served on the Sydney rail network.
The New South Wales Tulloch double deck carriage stock was a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) carriages operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1964 and 2004.
The Sydney Electric Train Society is a railway preservation society in Sydney, Australia. It specialises in NSW electric traction and particularly NSW electric locomotives.
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