Design & construction
The C sets were a follow-on from the K sets. They were built as an interim measure due to the lateness of the Tangara program. They were also used to train and familiarise staff with the new (at the time) chopper technology. [1] They 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. [2] Following the success of the implementation of chopper control, these features were later installed on the Tangara and later V set carriages.
The C set carriages were also the first on the suburban network to feature fixed seating (originally covered with fabric, since replaced with vinyl). [2] This proved to be unpopular, but nevertheless, fixed seating was later used on the suburban Tangara cars. 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 molding 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 order was for 56 cars:
| Qty | Class | Car numbers |
|---|
| 28 | Power cars | C3581-C3608 |
| 28 | Trailer cars | T4247-T4274 |
In service
The first set entered service in July 1986, operating out of Mortdale Maintenance Depot, [2] some were delivered to Hornsby Maintenance Depot, but by December 1988, all were operating out of Punchbowl Maintenance Depot as sets K40-K51. [3]
The chopper cars were originally targeted as 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 retargeted as C42-C54. [4] In January 1991, these were reformed as 6-car sets numbered C1-C8. [4] By June 1991, all had been transferred to Hornsby Maintenance Depot. [5]
One C set, C6, was painted in a livery having it's fiber-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. [6]
Since November 2017, all C Sets operated out of Flemington Maintenance Depot.
Since then C sets have operated on the following lines:
Retirement
The C sets were gradually phased out from September 2020 to February 2021, being replaced by B sets. [1] The C sets ran their final revenue timetabled service on 26 February 2021 on the Airport & South Line. [1] A farewell tour took place on 6 March 2021. [1] [7] [8]
As of March 2021, two C sets (C1 and C5) remain as standby sets for emergencies until at least April 2021. [1] None are set to be preserved, however the Sydney Electric Train Society is undergoing a request to preserve one set. [1]
Two carriages, C3581 and T4272 were sent to Fire and Rescue NSW on 6 May 2021 for training purposes. [9]
As of June 2021, the fate of the last two sets that haven't been scrapped is unknown.
The Sydney Trains M sets, also referred to as the Millennium trains are a class of electric multiple unit operated by Sydney Trains in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The fourth generation trains entered service from 1 July 2002 after short delays due to electrical defects. The trains can operate over the entire suburban network, but currently only operate on T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown, T5 Cumberland, T7 Olympic Park and T8 Airport & South lines. The M sets replaced the 1960s Tulloch trailers and provided extra capacity on the CityRail network.
The T sets, also referred to as the Tangara trains, are a class of electric multiple unit operated by Sydney Trains in Sydney, Australia. The Tangaras were delivered between 1988 and 1995, and are third-generation trains.
The Sydney Trains K sets are a class of electric multiple unit operated by Sydney Trains in New South Wales. The carriages are of stainless steel, double deck construction, and currently the oldest in the Sydney Trains fleet.
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The V sets are a class of electric multiple unit operated by NSW TrainLink in New South Wales, Australia. These stainless steel double deck trains operate on Interurban services on the Main Western line to Lithgow and Main Northern line to Newcastle, and are the oldest in the NSW TrainLink fleet. They will be gradually phased out with the introduction of the replacement D set trains from mid 2021.
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 Limited and is based in Melbourne, with a staff of 1,200 across Australia and Asia. It operates factories in Broadmeadow, Maintrain Auburn, 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 lines within Sydney, Australia. All of the rolling stock are double-deck electric multiple units and operate mainly as eight carriage sets.
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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 the main long-distance passenger train operated by NSW TrainLink on regional railway services in New South Wales, Australia from Sydney to Dubbo, Grafton and Casino as well as interstate destinations, Brisbane, and Melbourne. The XPT is based on the British Rail designed High Speed Train and entered service in April 1982.
The Sydney Trains A & B sets, both also known as Waratah trains, are classes of electric multiple unit operating on the Sydney Trains network. The trains were named after the Waratah flower, which is the state's floral emblem.
The U sets were a type of electric multiple unit operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between September 1958 and November 1996. They were nicknamed U-boats.
The NSW TrainLink fleet of trains serves the areas outside Sydney, Australia, mainly interurban and interstate lines. The NSW TrainLink fleet consists of both diesel and electric traction, with the oldest of the fleet being the V sets and the youngest being the H sets.
The New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock are a type of electric multiple unit that was operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between 1926 and 1992. They served on the Sydney suburban network. In the years before their withdrawal, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers.
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 were a type of electric multiple unit carriage 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.
