3000 class railcar

History

In March 1985, the State Transport Authority (STA) awarded a tender for 20 diesel railcars (eight 3000 class units with a cab at each end and twelve 3100 class with a cab at one end only) to Comeng's Dandenong rolling stock factory. The design was based on the stainless steel shell of the Comeng electric train then in production for Melbourne's Public Transport Corporation, but 2.3 m longer and with only two doors per side. Because of a contractual requirement to maximise local content, the fit-out was conducted at Comeng's Dry Creek facility. The first commenced testing in May 1987, entering service in November 1987. The eight 3000s were built first with the first 3100 class completed in mid-1988. The last entered service in December 1988.

In the original contract, there was an option to order 76 further examples. However, Comeng came back to the STA with a significantly higher price, so the work was put out to tender, and a contract for 50 was awarded to Clyde Engineering in November 1989. Comeng concluded a deal to sell the 3000 class design and tooling. However by the time construction commenced, Comeng had sold its Dandenong plant to ABB, who backed away from an agreement to hand over the jigs and tooling, so they were built between 1992 and 1996 by Clyde Engineering's Martin & King factory in Somerton, Victoria.

All were delivered with unpainted stainless steel offset by blue and orange stripes. In April 2002, the first was repainted by Bluebird Rail Operations in Adelaide Metro's yellow, blue and red.

Originally they operated on all Adelaide suburban lines, however since the electrification of the Seaford and Flinders lines in 2014 and Gawler line in 2022, they have been confined primarily to the Belair, Grange, and Outer Harbor lines along with the newly opened Port Dock line. They have on occasion ventured beyond the Adelaide metropolitan area, operating special services to Nuriootpa on the Barossa Valley line, Riverton on the Roseworthy-Peterborough line and Balaklava on the Hamley Bridge–Gladstone line. These tours stopped by the mid 2000s.

Mechanics

Only one of bogies is powered per car, originally with 2 Stromberg Electric Motors, which have now been replaced since the 2018 life extension.

The 3000 class bodies were built by Comeng and feature airbag secondary suspension. All 3000 class railcars are fitted with electro-magnetic track brakes, which are comparatively rare on trains, though they are commonly found on trams. These are operated separately from the normal mechanical and dynamic braking.

Trains are equipped with automatic Scharfenberg couplers which are operated from the driver's cab. Coupling operations are sometimes performed at Adelaide station, requiring an extra staff member to flag the driver as well as to connect the safety chains. This feature allows sets of up to six cars to be formed.

Two headlights are mounted at the top of the car in the centre on driver's cab ends. There are no marker lights at the front; however, there are red marker lights for the rear located on the upper corners. There are metal steps up the side of the car to each door, but they are not used by passengers, however in emergency situations, they may be used to allow passengers to disembark from the train. They are illuminated by lights at night. All cars are air-conditioned.

During May 2020, 50 out of 70 railcars were taken out of service on the Gawler, Belair and Outer Harbor rail lines due to a significant mechanical fault regarding the servicing of the cars. These trains were out of service for 2 weeks whilst servicing on the turbochargers and other defective parts were repaired/replaced, therefore, a decision was made by DPTI to shift all affected train services to a weekend timetable. The Seaford and Flinders lines were not affected due to electrification having been completed on those lines in early 2014. During these critical repairs, the Grange line was closed.

By 2024, 50 of the 70 railcars are in process of being converted into hybrid trains with a new ABB traction battery technology to reduce noise and emissions to improve the travel experience. The program was completed by January 2025.

Refurbishments

In the 2008/09 State Budget, it was announced that five out of six of Adelaide's railway lines were to be electrified commencing with the Noarlunga and Gawler lines. This was to have resulted in 58 of the 3000/3100 class railcars being converted to electric operation with the remaining 12 to be retained as diesels for operation on the Belair line. However with the electrification project scaled back and the additional orders of the 4000 class trains, the conversions were cancelled.

Commencing in April 2018, all 3000/3100 series railcars began a life extension program which included new Mercedes-Benz engines, upgraded bogies, enhanced upholstery and a repaint into a red and blue livery similar to the 4000 class units. The modernised livery features silver borders around the headlights and tail lights to allow for better illumination throughout light hours.

Starting from May 2021, Adelaide Metro began to gradually refurbish the interior of 50 of its 3000/3100 class railcars.

The 2021 refurbishment includes:

• brighter lights.
• new wheelchair spaces to provide room for two wheelchairs.
• new floor materials designed for better graffiti cleaning, removal of existing graffiti, and deep interior cleaning.
• creation of five new "bike-friendly" railcars with realigned seating, to be used primarily on the Belair Line which is frequented by cyclists.

In addition to the interior refurbishment, 50 of Adelaide Metro's 70 railcars have been fitted with ABB hybrid battery technology by 2024. This includes the installation of a new energy storage and recovery system, which stores kinetic energy in a battery during braking. This will reduce fuel consumption on the 3000/3100 class fleet, and reduce emissions, particularly at the enclosed Adelaide railway station, where 3000 class railcars are often left idling with their engine running when not in service. Adelaide Metro have previously indicated that following the completion of this project, and once 3000/3100 class railcars are no longer required on the Gawler line, non-upgraded railcars in the fleet will be retired, as only 50 railcars will be required for service. The hybrid-conversion program was completed in January 2025 with the final train being converted into hybrid. The last diesel-only railcars ran their final service on 31 December 2024.

As of May 2025, several of the single unit 3000 class are being converted to permanently coupled sets, with the cab saloon removed on one end of the railcar, usually the one connected to the other railcar to allow gangway access. The first railcars to receive this treatment were 3030 and 3025.

Fleet status

Table showing the status of the fleet.

References

References

1. (19 June 2018). "Retrofit traction solutions". [[ABB]].
2. ''[https://www.indaily.com.au/news/2022/12/06/adelaide-diesel-trains-approaching-end-of-the-line Adelaide diesel trains approaching end of the line]''
3. (29 October 2024). "Go Green".
4. "Here & There" ''[[Australian Railway History. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]'' issue 573 July 1985 page 53
5. "New Railcars for STA" ''[[Catch Point (periodical). Catch Point]]'' issue 48 July 1985 page 13
6. "South Australia" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' July 1985 page 215
7. "New STA Railcars" ''Catch Point'' issue 60 July 1987 page 14
8. New Railcar in Service ''[[Among Ourselves]]'' issue 242 July 1987 pages 2, 3, 17
9. "New STASA Suburban DEMUs'' ''Rail Australia'' August 1987''
10. "South Australia's STA 3000 & 3100 Class Railcars" ''Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin'' issue 608 June 2008 pages 122-128
11. Dunn, John. (2012). "Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 5: 1985-2012". Rosenberg Publishing.
12. 3000 Order Complete ''[[Transit Australia]]'' February 1989 page 37
13. New Railcars ''[[The Recorder (periodical). The Recorder]]'' November 1989 page 20
14. "Here & There" ''Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin'' issue 639 January 1991 page 22
15. "The Adelaide 3000 class railcars" ''Railway Digest'' March 2006 pages 20-23
16. "Here & There" ''Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin'' issue 777 July 2002 page 278
17. "Shirley Bassey in the Valley" ''Catch Point'' issue 119 May 1997 page 10
18. "General Operations - ARG Broad Gauge Lines" ''Catch Point'' issue 161 May 2004 page 28
19. ''[https://www.flickr.com/photos/129177245@N05/53903544490/in/photolist-2jHnGVP-2otticJ-2nFB6rR-2joiSAw-HHo1Ud-2otpqcr-pTyqhx-DA8mNA-2otsiL3-2mddFzR-29ekg8f-2otppyx-2nGGDLy-2nD9F5v-2jdQfj6-HCaTrB-2kZivqM-GNQcWg-2mX9Qwd-2joiS7k-HFuLqG-2iNCYNp-oF731r-2mZnr9S-2oamiYa-2joiQht-2mY6sEW-qZ8y8N-rarQvq-2hwiP6Q-2q8gKNJ-2kQzwmk-HCaTVn-2jRk7zW-2jgoNgC-2jdRATm-Z1GiYU-HLmze8-wqKd2D-2jog2LP-2jdRx5Q-q2xZPM-hXhUc1-28RoWeZ-2q8gL2e-mb72qi-hXhL7T-2ogvspe-uJyE5g-2ohv7YH Railcars crossing the River Light Trans Adelaide railcars 3139,3140 cross the Light River Bridge on the approach to Hamley Bridge in April 1999 while running a charter train to Balaklava]'' 5 August 2024
20. ''[https://new.abb.com/news/detail/110537/converting-adelaide-metro-into-australias-first-ever-diesel-hybrid-train-fleet Converting Adelaide Metro into Australia’s first-ever diesel-hybrid train fleet]''
21. [https://www.railjournal.com/regions/australia-nz/adelaide-hybrid-commuter-train-programme-complete/ Adelaide Hybrid Commuter train program complete]
22. "Adelaide rail electrification and tram extension" ''Railway Digest'' August 2008 page 18
23. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080927223211/http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0%2C22606%2C24394297-2682%2C00.html More standing room on trains] ''[[Adelaide Advertiser]]'' 24 September 2008
24. [http://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/936/200809-bp1-budget-overview.pdf Budget 2008/09] {{Webarchive. link. (4 February 2014 Government of South Australia)
25. [https://www.railexpress.com.au/south-australia-budget-sees-metro-rail-projects-canned/ South Australia Budget sees Metro rail projects canned] ''Rail Express'' 6 June 2012
26. DPTI news ''Catch Point'' issue 244 March 2018 page 4
27. 3000 Series Railcar Upgrade ''Catch Point'' issue 245 May 2018 pages 12/13
28. Metro, Adelaide. (2022-11-05). "Bike-friendly carriages take to the Belair line".
29. Australia, Premier of South. (2023-07-31). "SA accelerates towards zero-emission public transport with train and bus trials and it also help when in Adelaide Central because it is underground.".
30. (29 August 2022). "Department for Infrastructure and Transport in South Australia selects ABB for Australia's first diesel-hybrid train fleet conversion".
31. Metro, Adelaide. (2021-09-23). "Cleaner, greener public transport".
32. [https://infrastructuremagazine.com.au/final-hybrid-conversion-for-adelaide-metro-rail/ Final hybrid conversion for Adelaide Metro rail]
33. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/p2511/54402474861/ Frankenstein’s Railcar: The 3000 Class Mash-Up]
34. ''[https://railgallery.ru/list.php?did=5167&lang=en List of the vehicles Australian Railways, Adelaide Metro]''