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4D (train)
Encyclopedia
The 4D was a prototype
double deck electric multiple unit train
built for the Public Transport Corporation
of Melbourne
, the state capital of Victoria
, Australia
. It remains the only double deck train ever to have run in Melbourne.
. However it was similar only in terms of interior and exterior bodywork; the train's electrical system was much closer to that of a Comeng, and was incompatible with that of the Tangara. The design was further modified for use on Melbourne's broad gauge
track, and its control system was designed specifically to allow in-service coupling and operation with Comeng sets.
It was manufactured from stainless steel, fitted with air-conditioning, tinted windows, and inter-car doors allowing passengers to access all carriages of the train. It had a total passenger capacity of 974 passengers: 346 seated and 628 standing.
As part of the trial, the Belgrave and Lilydale lines were selected as main testing grounds for the unit and necessary works were performed to accommodate the train's somewhat unconventional dimensions. Works were slated for other lines in the suburban system, but it is not known whether they were ever carried out; the train's confinement to the Belgrave and Lilydale lines suggests that they were not. It was known that the train was physically too large for the Jolimont tunnel between Jolimont and West Richmond railway stations on the Hurstbridge and Epping lines. Given that the train was a demonstrator, it was likely that production designs or future infrastructure plans would have dealt with this.
, in December 1991, where it then entered a period of testing.
The unit broke from Melbourne tradition by being configured as Driving Trailer-Motor-Motor-Driving Trailer (D-TM-TM-D); all other sets in service at the time were (and are still) configured as Driving Motor-Trailer-Driving Motor (M-T-M). In a further break from tradition, the 4D did not use the 'D' code for a driving trailer, instead it was coded simply as T-M-M-T. The car numbers were also placed far outside the usual range; the 4D was numbered as 6000T-5000M-5002M-6002T for its whole service life.
Most of the time the 4D was on the rails it was parked in the stabling facilities at Bayswater railway station, Melbourne
on the Belgrave line.
It was first introduced into revenue service on 10 March 1992, after testing and a subsequent media launch. Eight trips were scheduled for its first day in service, the first being the 08:36am service from Flinders Street
to Box Hill
, followed by the 09:08am service back to Flinders Street, on which the train suffered the first of its many failures. This required the train to be removed from service at Camberwell
and the cancellation of the remaining trips.
Initially the 4D was run coupled to a 3-car Comeng set until 1996 when, after a troubled conversion to driver-only operation, it was permitted to operate on its own. Often as not, though, it was towed or pushed by a 3- or 6-car Comeng set following a failure.
When the suburban system was split into two in 1998 in preparation for privatisation, it was allocated to Hillside Trains (which became Connex
).
Throughout its 10 years in Melbourne, the 4D continued to be plagued by reliability issues that saw it constantly in and out of service. After its disappointing entry to service, the train saw little use and was in storage by 1999. It was revived in June 2000, but lasted only a year.
A final attempt was made in February 2002 to return the set to service, but after three days it again failed and was placed back in storage, never to run revenue service again.
in December 2002 for long-term storage.
In 2006, the 4D was purchased by RailCorp
(the New South Wales
Government-owned corporation responsible for operating Sydney
's suburban network) and United Group Rail, Goninan's successor company. From March of that year, the train was stripped of parts suitable for use in CityRail
's Tangara fleet.
Following the removal of these components – mostly doors, seats and other interior furnishings – RailCorp wrote the train off its books and ordered it be scrapped. On 29 March 2006, the 4D was transferred by El Zorro Rail Services
to metal recyclers Simsmetal in Brooklyn
, where it was cut up and recycled.
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
double deck electric multiple unit train
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
built for the Public Transport Corporation
Public Transport Corporation
The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body formed under the Transport Act 1983 which operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia....
of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, the state capital of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It remains the only double deck train ever to have run in Melbourne.
Design
Built by A Goninan & Co. in 1991, the train's design was based on that of the Tangara train used in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. However it was similar only in terms of interior and exterior bodywork; the train's electrical system was much closer to that of a Comeng, and was incompatible with that of the Tangara. The design was further modified for use on Melbourne's broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
track, and its control system was designed specifically to allow in-service coupling and operation with Comeng sets.
It was manufactured from stainless steel, fitted with air-conditioning, tinted windows, and inter-car doors allowing passengers to access all carriages of the train. It had a total passenger capacity of 974 passengers: 346 seated and 628 standing.
As part of the trial, the Belgrave and Lilydale lines were selected as main testing grounds for the unit and necessary works were performed to accommodate the train's somewhat unconventional dimensions. Works were slated for other lines in the suburban system, but it is not known whether they were ever carried out; the train's confinement to the Belgrave and Lilydale lines suggests that they were not. It was known that the train was physically too large for the Jolimont tunnel between Jolimont and West Richmond railway stations on the Hurstbridge and Epping lines. Given that the train was a demonstrator, it was likely that production designs or future infrastructure plans would have dealt with this.
Service
The 4D was shipped to Melbourne from Goninan's workshops in Newcastle, New South WalesNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, in December 1991, where it then entered a period of testing.
The unit broke from Melbourne tradition by being configured as Driving Trailer-Motor-Motor-Driving Trailer (D-TM-TM-D); all other sets in service at the time were (and are still) configured as Driving Motor-Trailer-Driving Motor (M-T-M). In a further break from tradition, the 4D did not use the 'D' code for a driving trailer, instead it was coded simply as T-M-M-T. The car numbers were also placed far outside the usual range; the 4D was numbered as 6000T-5000M-5002M-6002T for its whole service life.
Most of the time the 4D was on the rails it was parked in the stabling facilities at Bayswater railway station, Melbourne
Bayswater railway station, Melbourne
Bayswater is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Bayswater, on the Belgrave railway line. Bayswater is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 2.-Facilities:...
on the Belgrave line.
It was first introduced into revenue service on 10 March 1992, after testing and a subsequent media launch. Eight trips were scheduled for its first day in service, the first being the 08:36am service from Flinders Street
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
to Box Hill
Box Hill railway station, Melbourne
Box Hill railway station is on the Belgrave and Lilydale railway lines in Melbourne, Australia. It is located under Centro Box Hill shopping centre near the corner of Whitehorse Road and Station Street in Box Hill. A major bus interchange is part of the same complex, and the 109 tram route...
, followed by the 09:08am service back to Flinders Street, on which the train suffered the first of its many failures. This required the train to be removed from service at Camberwell
Camberwell railway station, Melbourne
Camberwell is a railway station which serves the Belgrave, Lilydale and Alamein lines in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia...
and the cancellation of the remaining trips.
Initially the 4D was run coupled to a 3-car Comeng set until 1996 when, after a troubled conversion to driver-only operation, it was permitted to operate on its own. Often as not, though, it was towed or pushed by a 3- or 6-car Comeng set following a failure.
When the suburban system was split into two in 1998 in preparation for privatisation, it was allocated to Hillside Trains (which became Connex
Connex Melbourne
Connex Melbourne was a wholly owned subsidiary of French company Veolia Environnement, which had a franchise from the State Government of Victoria to operate all suburban passenger rail services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In August 2007, Connex's contract was extended to 30 November 2009....
).
Throughout its 10 years in Melbourne, the 4D continued to be plagued by reliability issues that saw it constantly in and out of service. After its disappointing entry to service, the train saw little use and was in storage by 1999. It was revived in June 2000, but lasted only a year.
A final attempt was made in February 2002 to return the set to service, but after three days it again failed and was placed back in storage, never to run revenue service again.
Disposal
Ownership of the 4D was transferred back to the Victorian Government Department of Infrastructure, and the set was railed, ironically under its own power, to Newport Railway WorkshopsNewport Railway Workshops
The Newport Railway Workshops is a facility in the Melbourne suburb of Newport, Victoria, Australia, that builds, maintains and refurbishes railway rollingstock. It is located between the Williamstown and Werribee railway lines.-History:...
in December 2002 for long-term storage.
In 2006, the 4D was purchased by RailCorp
Rail Corporation New South Wales
Rail Corporation New South Wales is a statutory authority of the New South Wales government. RailCorp owns, operates and maintains the Sydney suburban and interurban rail network which is marketed under the CityRail brand; in addition to operating rural passenger services under the CountryLink...
(the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Government-owned corporation responsible for operating Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's suburban network) and United Group Rail, Goninan's successor company. From March of that year, the train was stripped of parts suitable for use in CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
's Tangara fleet.
Following the removal of these components – mostly doors, seats and other interior furnishings – RailCorp wrote the train off its books and ordered it be scrapped. On 29 March 2006, the 4D was transferred by El Zorro Rail Services
El Zorro (railway)
El Zorro is a railway operator based in Victoria, Australia. It is a private company that was founded in 1999, based in Spotswood, and named by director Ray Evans who has a taste for things Spanish. . The company has three shareholders: director Ray Evans, business manager Geoff Tighe, and Lisa...
to metal recyclers Simsmetal in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, Victoria
Brooklyn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Brooklyn had a population of 1583.-Industry:...
, where it was cut up and recycled.