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NZR EM class (Electric Multiple Unit)
Encyclopedia
The NZR
EM/ET class is a type of electric multiple unit
used on suburban services in Wellington
, New Zealand
. They are owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and operated by Tranz Metro
, a division of national railway operator KiwiRail
.
The 44 two-car units, each consisting of an EM class motor car and an ET class trailer car, are used on the 1500V DC electrified lines in the Wellington urban area and Kapiti Coast. They are used mainly on Kapiti Line and Hutt Valley Line services, and on the Melling Line.
The introduction of the EM class spelt the end of EW class
electric locomotive
-hauled passenger trains in the Wellington region (although diesel locomotives are used on the Wairarapa Line
) until their temporary reintroduction in 2008. However the older English Electric DM/D class
units were retained, mainly on the Melling and Johnsonville lines.
for the route. While the Johnsonville Line tunnel and platform clearances were improved in 2009, it is not envisaged that these units will be used on the line; due to their limited braking power on the steep grades.
Two EM class units have visited Johnsonville on test trains; on 14 June 1992 EM1004/ET3004 were towed behind shunter DSC
2285, and EM1056/ET3056 under its own power on 18 April 2010. The 2010 run was a trial to check clearances for the new Matangi units.
on 30 September 2010. The northbound unit (EM1010/ET3010 + EM1154/ET1154) derailed as a result of hitting a slip caused by heavy rain and became foul of the southbound line. Less than one minute after derailing the unit was struck by a southbound unit (EM1223/ET3223) which did not derail but caused extensive damage to both cabs.
A total of 60 passengers and crew were on the two units. Two people were hospitalised. The drivers of the two trains were father and son.
The damaged units were towed back to the EMU depot north of Wellington station. Since then EM1010 and ET 3223 have been marshalled together to form a unit, with ET3223 renumbered ET3010. Though an announcement has not been made it is expected that the damaged cars, EM1223 and the original ET3010, will not be repaired but will be used as a parts source for the rest of the fleet.
blue and yellow livery with new seats and brighter interiors. This project was completed by 2002.
In 2008 a proposed refurbishment of the units was deferred until the new Matangi units were available. The projected expenditure was $23.3 million in 2008 - 2009. The prototype refurbished unit was completed at the end of 2010.
Unit EM1373/ET3373 has been fully refurbished to ascertain unit costs and gauge public opinion. It has been repainted in Metlink's livery, similar to that of the Matangi. A decision to refurbish others in the fleet was made on 10 March 2011 as part of an $88 million rail upgrade package, instead of purchasing more Matangi. Following the refurbishment, ownership of the fleet will be transferred to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
EM/ET class is a type of electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
used on suburban services in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. They are owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and operated by Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro, part of KiwiRail, is the operator of Metlink suburban trains owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the Wellington Region of New Zealand....
, a division of national railway operator KiwiRail
KiwiRail
KiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
.
The 44 two-car units, each consisting of an EM class motor car and an ET class trailer car, are used on the 1500V DC electrified lines in the Wellington urban area and Kapiti Coast. They are used mainly on Kapiti Line and Hutt Valley Line services, and on the Melling Line.
Introduction
The cost of the 1979 order was NZ$33 million, then the single largest order of rolling stock in New Zealand Railways' history.The introduction of the EM class spelt the end of EW class
NZR EW class
The NZR EW class locomotive was a class of electric locomotive used in Wellington, New Zealand. The classification 'EW' was due to their being electric locomotives allocated to Wellington.- Introduction :...
electric locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
-hauled passenger trains in the Wellington region (although diesel locomotives are used on the Wairarapa Line
Wairarapa Line
The Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city of Wellington with the Wairarapa region. The line ends at Woodville, where it joins the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line...
) until their temporary reintroduction in 2008. However the older English Electric DM/D class
NZR DM class (Electric Multiple Unit)
The NZR DM/D class is a type of electric multiple unit used on the rail passenger network of Wellington, New Zealand formed of DM power cars and D trailers...
units were retained, mainly on the Melling and Johnsonville lines.
Service
The EM class were not operated on the Johnsonville Line as they were out-of-gaugeLoading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
for the route. While the Johnsonville Line tunnel and platform clearances were improved in 2009, it is not envisaged that these units will be used on the line; due to their limited braking power on the steep grades.
Two EM class units have visited Johnsonville on test trains; on 14 June 1992 EM1004/ET3004 were towed behind shunter DSC
NZR DSC class
The NZR DSC class is a heavy shunting locomotive used throughout New Zealand. The class was built in seven batches, the first 18 locomotives being built by British Thomson-Houston of the United Kingdom, with the remainder being built by New Zealand Railways....
2285, and EM1056/ET3056 under its own power on 18 April 2010. The 2010 run was a trial to check clearances for the new Matangi units.
Accidents
Three units were involved in an collision north of PlimmertonPlimmerton
The township of Plimmerton is adjacent to one of the more congenial beaches in the northwest part of the Wellington urban area of Porirua in New Zealand...
on 30 September 2010. The northbound unit (EM1010/ET3010 + EM1154/ET1154) derailed as a result of hitting a slip caused by heavy rain and became foul of the southbound line. Less than one minute after derailing the unit was struck by a southbound unit (EM1223/ET3223) which did not derail but caused extensive damage to both cabs.
A total of 60 passengers and crew were on the two units. Two people were hospitalised. The drivers of the two trains were father and son.
The damaged units were towed back to the EMU depot north of Wellington station. Since then EM1010 and ET 3223 have been marshalled together to form a unit, with ET3223 renumbered ET3010. Though an announcement has not been made it is expected that the damaged cars, EM1223 and the original ET3010, will not be repaired but will be used as a parts source for the rest of the fleet.
Refurbishment
In 1995 a major refurbishment programme was begun, with the class being repainted in Tranz RailTranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
blue and yellow livery with new seats and brighter interiors. This project was completed by 2002.
In 2008 a proposed refurbishment of the units was deferred until the new Matangi units were available. The projected expenditure was $23.3 million in 2008 - 2009. The prototype refurbished unit was completed at the end of 2010.
Unit EM1373/ET3373 has been fully refurbished to ascertain unit costs and gauge public opinion. It has been repainted in Metlink's livery, similar to that of the Matangi. A decision to refurbish others in the fleet was made on 10 March 2011 as part of an $88 million rail upgrade package, instead of purchasing more Matangi. Following the refurbishment, ownership of the fleet will be transferred to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Class register
| EM number | ET number | Introduced | Livery | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1004 | 3004 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1010 | 3010 | Tranz Rail blue | Involved in collision, 30 September 2010. Returned to service with former ET3223 renumbered ET3010 | |
| 1027 | 3027 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1056 | 3056 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1062 | 3062 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1079 | 3079 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1085 | 3085 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1091 | 3091 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1102 | 3102 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1119 | 3119 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1131 | 3131 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1148 | 3148 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1154 | 3154 | Tranz Rail blue | Involved in collision, 30 September 2010. Was at rear of train, not damaged | |
| 1160 | 3160 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1177 | 3177 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1183 | 3183 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1217 | 3217 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1223 | 3223 | Tranz Rail blue | Involved in collision, 30 September 2010. ET3223 renumbered ET3010 | |
| 1246 | 3246 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1252 | 3252 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1269 | 3269 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1281 | 3281 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1298 | 3298 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1309 | 3309 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1315 | 3315 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1321 | 3321 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1338 | 3338 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1344 | 3344 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1350 | 3350 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1367 | 3367 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1373 | 3373 | Metlink | First Metlink refurbishment. Back in service . | |
| 1396 | 3396 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1407 | 3407 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1413 | 3413 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1436 | 3436 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1442 | 3442 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1459 | 3459 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1465 | 3465 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1471 | 3471 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1488 | 3488 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1494 | 3494 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1505 | 3505 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1511 | 3511 | Tranz Rail blue | ||
| 1528 | 3528 | Tranz Rail blue |