Electric Railcars

The South Australian State Government recently selected Bombardier Transport Australia as their preferred partner to deliver 66 new electric railcars for Adelaide’s revitalised suburban railway network.

The three-car ‘A-City’ sets, to be constructed in Bombardier’s Queensland and Victoria plants, will feature an array of on-board technology including Smartcard ticketing capability and CCTV. They will also be designed to meet Adelaide’s extreme heat demands both in operation and passenger comfort.

The A-City railcars are expected to begin arriving in 2012 and enter service soon after testing on the new Seaford rail extension.

Railcar Upgrades

A $37 million program to completely refurbish and repaint Adelaide’s existing 3000 and 3100 Class fleet is currently underway. Fifty-four of the refurbished railcars will be converted to electric power between 2013 and 2015, while another sixteen will remain diesel powered for operation on the Belair line.

Railcar Retirements

The ageing fleet of 2000 and 2100 Class ‘Jumbo’ railcars, constructed in 1979, will be gradually phased out of service from 2013.