The first of 24 new air-conditioned suburban trains has rolled on to the Sydney network for testing.
Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, inspected the first of the new trains in Auburn ahead of its first passenger service in late 2018.
“Once the 24 new trains are in operation and proven reliable, the non-air-conditioned S-sets will be gradually decommissioned,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The good news is the areas where older trains are currently running, like Sydney’s south-west, will be given priority and receive the new Waratah trains first.”
The Waratah Series 2 trains will improve customer comfort and accessibility including features such as:
- Improved air conditioning with advanced temperature control
- More than 90 internal and external CCTV cameras and two customer help points per car
- Improved accessibility including priority seating, wheelchair spaces and hearing aid loops
- High definition customer information screens to provide journey and safety information
- Improved interior LED lighting
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said, “Over the next few months of testing we will ensure the first Waratah Series 2 train delivers a safe and comfortable journey before the first passengers get on board.
“Everyone is well aware that demand for trains is going through the roof and we need to act now to ensure we can continue to provide our customers with the services they need.
“In addition to the extra services we’ve delivered, another key part of the strategy is to add new trains to the network that will spend less time in maintenance and more time on the tracks.”
The Waratah Series 2 trains will arrive progressively in 2018 with the entire fleet expected to be on the tracks in early 2019.
