N type carriage
Encyclopedia
The N type carriages are an intercity passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria
, Australia
. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal
' reforms of country passenger rail services. Today there are seen on both V/Line
long distance InterCity services, as well as shorter InterUrban services.
The carriage sets have both first class 2+2 seating, and 2+3 economy seating. Snack bar facilities are also provided onboard. Originally delivered as 3 car sets, some sets were extended in length with S
and Z type carriage
s.
Today the carriages are normally hauled by N class diesel locomotives. The carriages can use an external head end power
supply for lighting and air conditioning operation, or an internal generator set. Each carriage has two swing doors per side, which were originally manually opened by passengers, but have since been converted to powered operation by the conductor. Toilets
, drinking fountains and luggage areas are provided throughout each carriage set.
of 1981 the order was extended to 54 carriages, and then to 57 due to cost savings during construction. They were built between 1981 and 1984, based upon the structural design of the Victorian Z type carriage
s built between 1956 and 1960.
In 2007 V/Line commenced a refurbishment program for their existing H type carriage
s and Sprinter
railcars, this program later being extended to the N type carriages. In October 2007 the first refurbished N type carriage was released into traffic with the new V/Line grey exterior livery, as well as updated interior curtains and seat fabrics. Since then various complete sets have been released from refurbishment (VN4, FN6, VN12, FN13, FN14, VN17). Work continues on the remainder of the fleet.
As part of the Albury-Wodonga line upgrade some N carriages will be converted to standard gauge
to run this service. Two sets (consisting of 5 carriages and one power/luggage van) have already been formed (SN15, SN16) and are currently running services on the broad gauge network on the Swan Hill and Warrnambool lines. Carriages for a third set (SN1) are presently undergoing refurbishment at Newport Workshops.
From 1995 surplus Z type
carriages were upgraded to N type interiors, with the following codes but with their original Z type numbers:
In 2009 a new code was introduced in conjunction with the formation of 'pure' 5 car N sets for standard gauge use:
, BZN or BTN type were attached to give longer sets. Additional cars may also be temporary attached or detached to a set without the set code being altered.
Rail transport in Victoria
Rail transport in Victoria, Australia, is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. Victorian lines use broad gauge, with the exception of a number of standard gauge freight and interstate lines, a few experimental narrow gauge lines, and...
, 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 introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal
New Deal (railway)
The New Deal' for Country Passengers was a timetable introduced on 4 October 1981 in Victoria, Australia that revolutionised the provision of country passenger railway services. 35 little-used passenger stations were closed, rolling stock utilisation improved, and new rolling stock introduced...
' reforms of country passenger rail services. Today there are seen on both V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
long distance InterCity services, as well as shorter InterUrban services.
The carriage sets have both first class 2+2 seating, and 2+3 economy seating. Snack bar facilities are also provided onboard. Originally delivered as 3 car sets, some sets were extended in length with S
S type carriage
The S type carriages are a compartment layout passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways in 1937 for use on the Spirit of Progress, with additional carriages built until the 1950s for other trains.Two major types of...
and Z type carriage
Z type carriage
The Z type carriages are an air conditioned steel passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways from 1957 for use on intrastate services....
s.
Today the carriages are normally hauled by N class diesel locomotives. The carriages can use an external head end power
Head end power
Head end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
supply for lighting and air conditioning operation, or an internal generator set. Each carriage has two swing doors per side, which were originally manually opened by passengers, but have since been converted to powered operation by the conductor. Toilets
Passenger train toilets
In rail transport, many passenger trains have toilet facilities on board. These are often located at the ends of carriages...
, drinking fountains and luggage areas are provided throughout each carriage set.
History
The order for the N type carriages was placed in 1977 for 30 carriages (10 sets) for use on the Geelong line, with 6 cars added to the order in 1978 for the Ballarat line, due to a by-election in the city. Under the New DealNew Deal (railway)
The New Deal' for Country Passengers was a timetable introduced on 4 October 1981 in Victoria, Australia that revolutionised the provision of country passenger railway services. 35 little-used passenger stations were closed, rolling stock utilisation improved, and new rolling stock introduced...
of 1981 the order was extended to 54 carriages, and then to 57 due to cost savings during construction. They were built between 1981 and 1984, based upon the structural design of the Victorian Z type carriage
Z type carriage
The Z type carriages are an air conditioned steel passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways from 1957 for use on intrastate services....
s built between 1956 and 1960.
In 2007 V/Line commenced a refurbishment program for their existing H type carriage
H type carriage
The H type carriages are an interurban passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Fitted with economy class only high density 2+3 seating, they are exclusively used on short distance interurban services with V/Line.-History:...
s and Sprinter
Sprinter (Victorian train)
The Sprinter is a high speed diesel railcar train manufactured by Goninan for use on interurban and semi-regional rail services in Victoria, Australia...
railcars, this program later being extended to the N type carriages. In October 2007 the first refurbished N type carriage was released into traffic with the new V/Line grey exterior livery, as well as updated interior curtains and seat fabrics. Since then various complete sets have been released from refurbishment (VN4, FN6, VN12, FN13, FN14, VN17). Work continues on the remainder of the fleet.
As part of the Albury-Wodonga line upgrade some N carriages will be converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
to run this service. Two sets (consisting of 5 carriages and one power/luggage van) have already been formed (SN15, SN16) and are currently running services on the broad gauge network on the Swan Hill and Warrnambool lines. Carriages for a third set (SN1) are presently undergoing refurbishment at Newport Workshops.
Coding
N type carriages are individually numbered in the 1 to 57 series. Sets were issued to traffic with three types of carriage:- ACN first class with conductors van
- BRN economy class with snack bar
- BN economy class
From 1995 surplus Z type
Z type carriage
The Z type carriages are an air conditioned steel passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways from 1957 for use on intrastate services....
carriages were upgraded to N type interiors, with the following codes but with their original Z type numbers:
- BZN economy class with disabled access and toilet
- BTN economy class
In 2009 a new code was introduced in conjunction with the formation of 'pure' 5 car N sets for standard gauge use:
- BDN economy class with disabled access and toilet (interior similar to a BZN carriage).
Carriage sets
The N cars appear in fixed sets not altered in ordinary service. The sets are numbered between 1 and 19. Initially issued to service as 3 car sets, from 1995 additional cars of the BCZ, ACZ, BSS type carriage
The S type carriages are a compartment layout passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways in 1937 for use on the Spirit of Progress, with additional carriages built until the 1950s for other trains.Two major types of...
, BZN or BTN type were attached to give longer sets. Additional cars may also be temporary attached or detached to a set without the set code being altered.
- N: 3 car set
- FN: 4 car set
- VN: 5 car set
Services
N sets are used on lines including:- the North-East line, to Seymour, Shepparton and Albury
- the Gippsland line, to Traralgon and Bairnsdale
- the Bendigo line, to SunburySunbury railway station, MelbourneSunbury is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the township of Sunbury, on the Melbourne - Bendigo railway. The station is staffed during daylight hours for most train services until approximately 8pm, and is in Metcard and myki Zone 2...
and Swan Hill - the Geelong line, to Geelong, South Geelong, Marshall and Warrnambool
- the Ballarat line, to Bacchus Marsh