InterCity Express (Citytrain)
Encyclopedia
Walkers-ABB InterCity Express (ICE) are a model of electric multiple unit used by Citytrain
in South East Queensland
, Australia
. They were built for a North Coast Line
service between Brisbane and Rockhampton
, the 'Spirit Of Capricorn'. The trains are now used on commuter rail services in South East Queensland
.
introduced the ICE sets in 1988, for use on the North Coast Line
between Brisbane and Rockhampton
. The service was named the 'Spirit Of Capricorn
' and boasted 2+1 seating and a trolley service. It reduced the journey time by a few hours when first introduced. In 1998, the faster QR Electric Tilt Train replaced most 'Spirit of Capricorn' services, which were reduced to once a week from 1998 then discontinued on 24 May 2003, when the diesel Tilt Train service to Cairns was launched. The ICEs were transferred to Citytrain
for interurban services on the Nambour and Gympie North Line.
The trains have recently undergone a makeover, adding new high-visibility lights, yellow doors, upgraded toilets and a changed to squared-off windows on the cabs, instead of the original wrap-around windows.
), the narrow width, positioning and hinged configuration of doors and increasingly lower reliability, combined with the popularity of the line, make it difficult to run them there.
CityTrain
Citytrain is the brand name of urban, suburban and inter-urban electric passenger railway services in South East Queensland, Australia. Its network, centering in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, is approximately in route length...
in South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
, 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...
. They were built for a North Coast Line
North Coast railway line, Queensland
The North Coast railway line is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It runs from Brisbane, along the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton...
service between Brisbane and Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, the 'Spirit Of Capricorn'. The trains are now used on commuter rail services in South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
.
Spirit of Capricorn
Queensland RailQueensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
introduced the ICE sets in 1988, for use on the North Coast Line
North Coast railway line, Queensland
The North Coast railway line is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It runs from Brisbane, along the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton...
between Brisbane and Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
. The service was named the 'Spirit Of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
' and boasted 2+1 seating and a trolley service. It reduced the journey time by a few hours when first introduced. In 1998, the faster QR Electric Tilt Train replaced most 'Spirit of Capricorn' services, which were reduced to once a week from 1998 then discontinued on 24 May 2003, when the diesel Tilt Train service to Cairns was launched. The ICEs were transferred to Citytrain
CityTrain
Citytrain is the brand name of urban, suburban and inter-urban electric passenger railway services in South East Queensland, Australia. Its network, centering in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, is approximately in route length...
for interurban services on the Nambour and Gympie North Line.
The trains have recently undergone a makeover, adding new high-visibility lights, yellow doors, upgraded toilets and a changed to squared-off windows on the cabs, instead of the original wrap-around windows.
Present use
Since 2003, ICEs have been used by Citytrain for interurban services exclusively on the Nambour and Gympie North Line. They no longer operate on the Gold Coast Line; despite their origin as long-distance trains and their higher standards of comfort (greater than the IMU setsInterurban Multiple Unit (Citytrain)
The Interurban Multiple Unit are a class of electric multiple unit used by Citytrain in and around South East Queensland Australia. The Interurban Multiple Unit comes in three subclasses, Sets 100-110 is known as the 100 series, Sets 121-124 is known as the 120 series, and the newest interurban...
), the narrow width, positioning and hinged configuration of doors and increasingly lower reliability, combined with the popularity of the line, make it difficult to run them there.