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Downer rolls out the last of the Waratah Series 2 passenger trains

The 41st Waratah Series 2 train rolled onto Sydney’s network over the weekend.
The 41st Waratah Series 2 train rolled onto Sydney’s network over the weekend.
The 41st Waratah Series 2 train rolled onto Sydney’s network over the weekend. Image courtesy of Downer.

Over the weekend, Downer rolled out the last of the Waratah Series 2 passenger trains in New South Wales, bringing the total fleet number to 41.

The New South Wales Government ordered an initial fleet of 24 eight-car Waratah Series 2 suburban trains as part of the More Trains, More Services program back in 2016. It followed Downer’s successful delivery of 78 Waratah Series 1 trains which had entered the service a decade earlier.

In February 2019, the New South Wales Government announced the procurement of an additional 17 Waratah Series 2 trains, as part of a $900 million contract with Downer that includes the maintenance of the trains.

On Monday, Downer announced the last train had rolled onto Sydney’s network over the weekend, bringing the total combined fleet of Waratah Series 1 and Series 2 trains in service to 119.

“This makes the Waratah trains the largest fleet of passenger trains in Australia, serving the largest suburban passenger network in the country,” Downer’s Head of Project and Contract Delivery, Kamal Habibullah, said.

The trains were manufactured and delivered to Downer by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles (CRRC) under a sub-contract arrangement, while final assembly, testing and commissioning was completed at Downer’s Cardiff Service Delivery Centre. The Waratah Series 2 trains are maintained at Downer’s Auburn Maintenance Centre.

The introduction of the Waratah Series 2 fleet means that 100 per cent of the Sydney Trains fleet is now air-conditioned. With the new fleet in operation, the historic S-Set fleet ended nearly half a century of revenue service.

The new Waratah Series 2 trains provide priority seating, wheelchair spaces and hearing aid loops. Other features include double deck cars, air conditioning with advanced temperature control, high definition customer information screens to provide journey and safety information and internal and external CCTV and customer help points.


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