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New South Wales XPT

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New South Wales XPT
XP 2016 (Power Car) at Sydney Central.
XP 2016 (Power Car) at Sydney Central.
Economy class carriage
Stock typeDiesel Powered
In service1982–present
ManufacturerComeng, ABB
Constructed1981-1993
Entered service8 April 1982
Refurbished1992–1993, 2005–2008
Number built19 Power Cars, 60 Trailers
Number in service58
Number scrapped2
SuccessorR set
Formation4-7 carriages
Fleet numbersXP2000–XP2017, XP2019

XAM2175–2178, 2180–2182 XL2228, 2230–2236 XBR2150–2158 XF2200–2223

XFH2104–2110, XFH2112–13
OperatorsState Rail Authority, CountryLink, NSW TrainLink
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Train length
  • Power Car:17.35 m (56 ft 11 in)
  • 3-car: 75.75 m (248 ft 6 in)
  • 4-car: 101 m (331 ft 4 in)
Car lengthPower Car: 25.25 m (82 ft 10 in) Tralier: 17.35 m (56 ft 11 in)
WidthPower Car: 2.89 m (9 ft 6 in) Trailer: 2.92 m (9 ft 7 in)
HeightPower Car: 4.22 m (13 ft 10 in) Trailer:4.04 m (13 ft 3 in)
Doors2 per side, hinged slam
Maximum speed
  • 200 km/h (120 mph) (design)
  • 193 km/h (120 mph) (record)
  • 160 km/h (99 mph) (service)
Weight40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons)
Axle loadPower Car: 19 t (19 long tons; 21 short tons) Trailer: 6.5 t (6.4 long tons; 7.2 short tons)
Prime mover(s)Paxman Valenta (as built), Paxman VP185 (from 2000)
Power output383 kW (514 hp) per car
TransmissionVoith Turbo T311r KB260
BogiesPower Car: PJA Trailer: NHA
Braking system(s)Disc, air operated
Coupling systemKnuckle
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The New South Wales XPT (short for eXpress Passenger Train) is a class of diesel-powered passenger trains built by Comeng and ABB. Based on the British Rail-designed High Speed Train, each XPT set comprises two XP power cars in a push-pull configuration and, between them, between four and seven passenger carriages.[1]

The XPT was procured following a competitive tendering process under an initial contract for 30 trainsets, comprising 10 power cars and 20 carriages, in March 1980. The design of the InterCity 125 was substantially modified. Testing commenced in August 1981 and the first set entered service under the State Rail Authority during January 1982. The XPT proved to be considerably faster than existing rolling stock, reducing the journey time between Sydney and Melbourne by up to two hours.

Throughout the 1980s, additional XPT sets were procured, permitting the launch of services such as the Northern Tablelands XPT and the Riverina XPT. An XPT fare surcharge was discontinued in May 1985. During the early 1990s, sleeping cars were procured, permitting the XPT to effectively take on overnight services such as the Sydney/Melbourne Express. There were also advanced plans made for additional XPTs to be produced for Thailand, but these were later abandoned. The XPTs are presently operated under NSW TrainLink, running on long-distance regional and interstate North Coast, Main Western and Main Southern line services throughout New South Wales and interstate into Victoria and Queensland.

The trains have been subject to refurbishments and overhauls to permit their use into the twenty-first century. During October 2016, the NSW government announced the XPT fleet would be entirely replaced as part of the Regional Train Project. The replacement fleet, originally set to enter service in 2023, has encountered delays (now scheduled for around 2025–2027), thus the XPT will operate longer than originally anticipated with the potential for them to be retained after the new trains enter service.

History

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Development

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Improving public transport was a major issue in the 1976 New South Wales state election. One of the commitments of the incoming Wran government was to buy new rolling stock for country rail services.[2][3]

During January 1978, the Public Transport Commission invited tenders for 25 high-speed railcars, which were to be broadly similar to Western Australia's Prospector railcars delivered by Comeng in 1971. The tender allowed bidders to suggest alternative types of high-speed train. Comeng submitted a tender for a train based on the British Rail designed High Speed Train, which had entered service in the United Kingdom in 1976.[4] During August 1979, Comeng was announced as the successful bidder and, although the tender had called for 100 vehicles, by the time the contract was signed in March 1980, the order was only for 30: 10 power cars and 20 carriages, enough to form four five-carriage trains with two spare power cars.[5][6][7][8]

Locomotives and passenger cars of the XPT (click to enlarge)

The High Speed Train design was significantly modified, with the power cars being 50 cm (19.7 in) shorter, the Paxman Valenta engine downrated from 2250 to 2000 bhp (1680 to 1490 kW), gearing lowered for a top operating speed of 160 km/h (100 mph), suspension modified to operate on inferior track, and air filters and a cooling system modified to cater for hotter, dustier Australian conditions. The passenger cars, built to a loading gauge bigger than that of railways in Britain, were based on a Budd design.[6] Nonetheless, the passenger car bogies were based on the British Rail BT10 design;[9] later trailer cars used an ABB design.[citation needed] The XPT is theoretically capable of reaching speeds of 200 km/h (125 mph).[10]

During August 1981, the first power car and trailer commenced testing with a stainless steel luggage van.[11] The initial XPT livery was red, black and orange with InterCity XPT signwriting on the power cars. On a demonstration run to Albury on 6 September 1981, the XPT set a new Australian rail speed record of 183 km/h between Table Top and Gerogery in southern NSW, breaking that set by the Western Australian Government Railways' Prospector railcar in 1971. On a test run to Albury on 18 September 1992, the XPT reached 193 km/h between Table Top and Yerong Creek.[12][13] This record was broken by Queensland Rail's Electric Tilt Train in May 1999.[14]

In service

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XP2007, in the first CountryLink livery, in Wagga Wagga in August 2008

In January 1982, the first full test XPT set started running. The first four sets entered service on the Central West XPT to Dubbo during April 1982, the Mid North Coast XPT to Kempsey in May 1982 and the Riverina XPT to Albury in August 1982.[6] The XPT cut one hour and 54 minutes off the travel time from Sydney to Dubbo.[15]

In 1983, a further five power cars and 15 trailers were ordered; these allowed the Canberra XPT to commence in August 1983 followed by the Northern Tablelands XPT to Glen Innes and Tenterfield (two times per week only) in June 1984.[16] The XPT cut 50 minutes off the trip between Sydney and Canberra.[17] By tightening up the diagrams, an overnight South XPT to Albury was introduced, but was withdrawn in June 1985 due to low patronage.[18][19][20] During 1985, an additional 12 trailer carriages were ordered to allow six sets of 7 carriages to be formed.[21][22] From October 1985, the Mid North Coast XPT to Kempsey ceased, being replaced by the Holiday Coast XPT to Grafton. The Northern Tablelands XPT also was cut back to Armidale and only ran on alternate days with a HUB/RUB set operating on the other days.[23]

Initially, the XPT carried a fare surcharge compared to parallel locomotive hauled services; however this charge was abolished from May 1985.[24]

It was proposed to extend operations to Melbourne with costs to be shared with V/Line. A five-carriage promotional train ran to Melbourne on Sunday 17 February 1985, running four free return shuttles to Tullamarine Loop.[25] Crew training commenced on the North East line between Albury and Benalla in July 1985 with services scheduled to commence on 3 August, however agreement could not be reached with the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees over crewing and the plan was shelved.[26][27][28] Another promotional train ran to Melbourne in November 1990.[29]

Following the election of the Greiner government in March 1988, consultants Booz Allen Hamilton were commissioned to prepare a report into NSW rail services. On purely economic grounds, the report recommended closing all country passenger services as they were judged unviable; however this was not politically acceptable.[30][31] If services were to be maintained, the report recommended operating a reduced rail service, all with XPTs.

During February 1990, both the Brisbane Limited and Pacific Coast Motorail were withdrawn and replaced by XPT services to Brisbane and Murwillumbah. To provide rolling stock for these, the Canberra XPT was withdrawn and replaced by a locomotive hauled train and the Northern Tablelands Express was truncated to become a day return service to Tamworth.[32][33]

In June 1990, the government announced that it would purchase a fleet of Xplorers to reintroduce services to Armidale and Moree. When these were introduced in October 1993, the Northern Tablelands XPT ceased and the stock replaced a locomotive hauled set on a service to Grafton.[34]

XPT in the second CountryLink livery at Gunning in March 2009

During October 1990, the government announced that eight sleeper carriages would be ordered for use on overnight services to Brisbane, Murwillumbah and Melbourne.[35][36] These were included in an order placed with ABB in 1991 for four power cars and 13 trailers that was jointly funded by the New South Wales and Victorian governments.[37][38][39][40] At the same time, the earlier stock was repainted in CountryLink livery.[41] The power cars were repainted by Clyde Engineering at Kelso while the carriages were done in Breemar.[42][43]

In November 1993, XPTs replaced locomotive hauled stock on the overnight Sydney/Melbourne Express.[44] In December 1994, an XPT daylight service to Melbourne was introduced by extending the Riverina XPT from Albury.[45] The XPTs reduced the travel time to Melbourne by up to two hours.[46]

During 1995, CountryLink trialled three Swedish Railways X2000 tilting train carriages. After conducting a statewide tour in March, they were used on Canberra services from 23 April until 18 June 1995 with modified XPT power cars XP2000 and XP2009.[47]

Starting in 2003, an XPT has operated a service each January to Parkes for the Parkes Elvis Festival.[48][49] Following the closure of the Murwillumbah line, the XPT service was cut back to Casino from May 2004.[50][51] During October 2013, using a set that had been isolated west of Lithgow by bushfires, it was deployed on the Outback Xplorer service to Broken Hill.[52]

Fleet

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XP power cars

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A total of 19 XP power cars were built, originally powered by a Paxman Valenta 12RP200L engine with a single turbocharger. These were replaced from June 2000 by Paxman VP185 12-cylinder, diesel engines with four low-pressure turbochargers and two high-pressure turbochargers boasting 1,492 kW or 2,001 horsepower that had been successfully used by some British Rail High Speed Trains since 1994.[53][54] Traction equipment was manufactured in England by Brush Traction of Loughborough.

Power cars comprise five main compartments at the platform level. At the front is the drivers' cab, followed by the clean air compartment, engine room, cooling group, and compressor room at the rear of the locomotive.

The XP power cars were named after cities and towns that the XPT served:[55]

In November 2022, power car XP2011 was named "Kimbo" in honour of retiring driver Kim Andronicus. During late 2023, power car XP2008 received the name “2 Dads”. Both XP2011 and XP2008 display their names as decals under the side cab windows.

XP2000–XP2014 were built by Comeng, Granville while XP2015–XP2018 were built by ABB, Dandenong.

Carriages

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The XPT carriages were refurbished between 1992 and 1993, which included their repainting in CountryLink livery.[41] All were refurbished again between 2005 and 2008.[56][57][58][59]

After two carriages were written off after the Wallan derailment in 2020, UGL Rail was contracted to convert two XF economy sitting cars to an XAM sleeper and XBR first buffet.[60][61]

As at June 2023, the carriage fleet of 58 carriages comprised[62]

  • 7 Sleeping cars: XAM2175-2178, 2180–2182
  • 8 First class saloon cars XL 2228, 2230-2236
  • 8 First class saloon/buffet cars XBR 2150–2158
  • 25 Economy class saloon cars XF2200-2223
  • 9 Economy class saloon/luggage cars XFH 2104–2110, 2112, 2113

Formations

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Initially, all services operated with five carriage sets. Following the purchase of extra carriages, this was increased to seven. In 1998, each set was reduced to six carriages.[63] During 2001, all were reduced to five carriages outside of school holiday periods.[64][65] Presently, XPTs operate with four carriages to Dubbo (formed from the country end as XL, XBR, XF and XFH), and five (formed from the country end as XAM, XL, XBR, XF and XFH) on the North Coast and Melbourne services, with six during peak times when an extra XF is added (formed from the country end as XAM, XL, XBR, XF, XF and XFH) The Dubbo set can operate with one power car if required, with the power car turned at its destination.

Depot

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The XPT fleet is maintained at the XPT Service Centre, a purpose built depot south of Sydenham station within the confines of the Meeks Road Triangle. All work is performed here except for wheel reprofiling which is performed on a wheel lathe at Flemington Maintenance Depot.

Accidents and incidents

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On 3 May 1991, an XPT locomotive derailed at Henty, injuring the driver and six passengers.[66]

On 27 January 2001, an XPT collided with a car on a level crossing in the Gerogery level crossing accident. Five people in the car were killed, and the train was derailed.[67]

On 20 February 2020, a Sydney to Melbourne bound XPT derailed in the Wallan derailment, killing the train's driver and pilot and injuring twelve.[68][69] The leading powercar, XP2018 was rebuilt as XP2019, re-entering service in February 2023.[70] Two carriages were written off.[61]

Replacement

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In October 2016, the NSW government announced the XPTs would be replaced as part of the Regional Train Project.[71][72][73][74] Two months later, it was announced that several different train manufacturers had been shortlisted to supply the replacement trains.[75] During February 2019, a contract with the Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) was signed for a new fleet of bi-mode Civity trains; these are to replace the XPTs.[76] Originally scheduled to enter service sometime in 2023, the Civity fleet has been delayed, allegedly due to requested design changes.[77][78] The government has not ruled out retaining XPTs after the introduction of the new trains.[79]

Services

[edit]

The XPT fleet is currently used on services from Sydney to Grafton, Casino, Brisbane, Dubbo and Melbourne.[80][81][82]

Operating cycle

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The Dubbo set is captive and operates a daily return service. The other seven sets rotate on a seven-day repeating cycle as follows:[83]

  • Day 1: 07:42 Sydney to Melbourne arrives 18:30, forms 19:50 Melbourne to Sydney
  • Day 2: arrives Sydney 06:58, forms 11:41 Sydney to Grafton arrives 22:15
  • Day 3: 05:15 Grafton to Sydney arrives 15:45, forms 20:42 to Melbourne
  • Day 4: arrives in Melbourne 07:30, forms 08:30 to Sydney arrives 19:59
  • Day 5: 07:08 Sydney to Casino arrives 18:41, forms 19:30 Casino to Sydney
  • Day 6: arrives Sydney 07:01, forms 14:41 Sydney to Brisbane
  • Day 7: arrives Brisbane 04:53, forms 05:55 Brisbane to Sydney arrives 20:10

Between each duty in Sydney, trains are serviced at the XPT Service Centre south of Sydenham station. This pattern has led to the XPT being one of the most utilised train fleets worldwide with only three significant periods of downtime in the cycle. This includes one overnight stabling in Grafton, between days 2 and 3, and two overnight stablings in Sydney, between days 4 and 5, and days 7 and 1.

Potential export sale

[edit]

During 1986, an agreement was reached to build a fleet of XPTs for the State Railway of Thailand. To allow the train to be built to the narrower 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge while retaining the same fuel capacity, it was proposed to extend the power cars by 2.7 to 20 metres (8 ft 10 in to 65 ft 7 in) and mount them on Bo′Bo′Bo′ bogies. The negotiations were sufficiently advanced for the Prime Minister of Thailand to announce the agreement on television, however the Australian Department of Trade withdrew its support at the last moment and the deal fell through.[40][84][85]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Transport for NSW, Customer Experience Division. "XPT Regional Trains". transportnsw.info. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. ^ "New Trains for Country Services". Network. March 1979. p. 16.
  3. ^ "XPT – New South Wales' political train". Modern Railways. No. 399. December 1984. pp. 544–546.
  4. ^ "NSW gives country passengers a break". Railway Gazette International. March 1979. p. 210.
  5. ^ "HST begets XPT". Railway Gazette International. June 1980. pp. 511–512.
  6. ^ a b c Cooke, David (1984). Railmotors and XPTs. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. ISBN 0-909650-23-3.
  7. ^ Marsden, Colin (2001). HST Silver Jubilee. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-711028-47-8.
  8. ^ "XPT Australia's train of tomorrow". Rail. September 1982. pp. 40–42.
  9. ^ Butcher, C. F. G. (1981). "Development of Bogies for XPT". Mechanical Engineering Transactions: 212 – via Rail Knowledge Bank.
  10. ^ "To find out what the XPT can do". Canberra Times. 13 June 1981. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Here & There". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin. No. 528. October 1981. p. 81.
  12. ^ "CountryLink Triumph – New Speed Record". Freight Rail & Countrylink Xpress. No. 33 November 1992. pp. 2–3.
  13. ^ "The making of an XPT speed record". Railway Digest. November 1992. p. 417.
  14. ^ "QR Tilt Train Sets Australian Rail Speed Record". Railway Digest. June 1999. p. 15.
  15. ^ Hely, Susan (7 April 2022). "From the Archives 1982: First XPT was a minute late and two hours early". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  16. ^ "XPTs Take Over Northern Tablelands Express and South Mail". Railway Digest. July 1984. p. 222.
  17. ^ "Canberra XPT service". Canberra Times. 3 February 1982. p. 1. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Union criticises axing of Sydney-Albury XPT". Canberra Times. 24 June 1985. p. 3. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Country Train and Coach Changes". Railway Digest. August 1985. p. 229.
  20. ^ "The XPT Turns 15". Railway Digest. April 1997. p. 43.
  21. ^ "XPT Cars Ordered". Railway Digest. October 1985. p. 297.
  22. ^ "In Brief". Railway Gazette International. October 1985. p. 737.
  23. ^ "More Timetable Changes". Railway Digest. November 1985. p. 327.
  24. ^ "XPT Fares Reduced". Railway Digest. April 1985. p. 98.
  25. ^ "XPT visit". Newsrail. April 1985. pp. 115, 117.
  26. ^ "XPT Interstate Trains". Canberra Times. 16 July 1985. p. 12. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018.
  27. ^ "XPT Crew Training in Victoria". Newsrail. October 1985. p. 306.
  28. ^ "Two years late". Newsrail. May 1986. p. 146.
  29. ^ "Newsrail". Newsrail. March 1991. p. 69.
  30. ^ "CountryLink 2000". Railway Digest. August 1989. p. 262.
  31. ^ Moore, Lagan (14 July 1989). "SRA takes axe to 8000 jobs". Sydney Morning Herald.
  32. ^ "Canberra XPT can't be saved". Canberra Times. 24 January 1990. p. 7. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018.
  33. ^ "The New Timetable". Railway Digest. March 1990. p. 94.
  34. ^ "Xplorer Enters Service". Railway Digest. November 1993. p. 458.
  35. ^ "XPT sleepers for North Coast trains". Railway Digest. November 1990. p. 385.
  36. ^ "XPT revamp". Railway Gazette International. November 1990. p. 823.
  37. ^ "NSW/Vic to share XPTs". Railway Digest. January 1991. p. 7.
  38. ^ "Sydney-Melbourne to go XPT". Railway Gazette International. January 1991. p. 9.
  39. ^ "XPT trailer cars to be built in Victoria". Railway Digest. August 1991. p. 273.
  40. ^ a b Dunn, John (2013). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 5 1985–2012. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 13–15, 203–219. ISBN 9781922013521.
  41. ^ a b "New Colours for Australia'a XPT". The Railway Magazine. No. 1085. September 1991. p. 607.
  42. ^ "XPT Repaints". Railway Digest. May 1991. p. 160.
  43. ^ "XPT repainting program completed". Railway Digest. August 1992. p. 290.
  44. ^ "Major Passenger Train Changes Commence this Month". Railway Digest. November 1993. p. 466.
  45. ^ "Sydney-Melbourne Daylight XPT Commences This Month". Railway Digest. December 1994. p. 7.
  46. ^ Kurmelovs, Royce (25 February 2020). "From showpiece to goat track: the long, dangerous decline of Sydney-to-Melbourne rail travel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  47. ^ "So why do you call it a tilt train?". Railway Digest. July 1995. p. 30.
  48. ^ "Elvis Express". Railway Digest. March 2006. p. 57.
  49. ^ "All aboard the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express train" (PDF). NSW TrainLink. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2014.
  50. ^ "Murwillumbah XPT to end – line faces closure". Railway Digest. June 2004. p. 6.
  51. ^ "Closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail service" (PDF). NSW Parliament. 24 November 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
  52. ^ "New South Wales XPT". Australian Railways Illustrated. December 2013. p. 8.
  53. ^ "MTU looks at IC125 power". Rail Business Intelligence. No. 118. 20 January 2000. p. 6.
  54. ^ "Market". Railway Gazette International. April 2000. p. 210.
  55. ^ "An Express Passenger Train 40 years – Part 2". Australian Railway History. No. 1007. January 2022. pp. 4–13.
  56. ^ "Enhancements underway for CountryLink's XPT fleet". Railway Digest. March 2005. p. 6.
  57. ^ "XPT Passenger Cars new livery in service". Railway Digest. February 2006. p. 12.
  58. ^ "The CountryLink XPT Refurbishment". Railway Digest. July 2006. pp. 22–27.
  59. ^ "XPT carriage refurbishment completed". Railway Digest. October 2008. p. 9.
  60. ^ "Rolling Stock contracts and deliveries". Railway Digest. April 2022. p. 50.
  61. ^ a b "XPT power car XP2018 from Wallan derailment returns to service as XP2019, two XF economy to XAM and XBR underway at UGL Unipart". Railway Digest. April 2023. p. 10.
  62. ^ "The locomotive hauled passenger car fleet". Railway Digest. July 2023. p. 47.
  63. ^ "Asian Downturn Hits CountryLink – XPTs Shed Cars". Railway Digest. June 1998. p. 9.
  64. ^ "Countrylink News – XPTs cut to five cars & Xplorers to Broken Hill?". Railway Digest. June 2001. p. 7.
  65. ^ "Here & There". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin. No. 765. July 2001. p. 273.
  66. ^ "XPT locomotive derailed, driver, six passengers hurt". The Canberra Times. 5 May 1991. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  67. ^ "Riding a slow train to nowhere". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  68. ^ "Two people die after passenger train derails near Wallan north of Melbourne". ABC News. 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  69. ^ "'It was horrendous': Derailed train passengers were tossed around in crash". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  70. ^ "Motive Power Roundup". Motive Power. No. 146. March 2023. p. 58.
  71. ^ "New NSW country fleet procurement to begin in 2017". Rail Express. 31 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017.
  72. ^ "NSW fleet replacement accelerated". Railway Gazette International. 31 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017.
  73. ^ "First steps taken to deliver new XPT fleet". Transport for NSW. 1 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017.
  74. ^ "Process kicks off to replace XPTs". Rail Express. 1 March 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017.
  75. ^ "Shortlist announced for NSW regional fleet renewal". International Railway Journal. 4 December 2017.
  76. ^ "CAF to replace New South Wales regional train fleet". Railway Gazette International. 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019.
  77. ^ "NSW's $2.6b train fleet running three years late, confidential documents show". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 September 2022.
  78. ^ Rabe, Tom; O'Sullivan, Matt (26 December 2022). "Dispute over design changes to new train fleet in deadlock". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  79. ^ Visontay, Elias (9 December 2022). "Planes, trains and automobiles: comparing cost, speed and emissions of Sydney-Melbourne travel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  80. ^ Western timetable Archived 17 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine NSW TrainLink
  81. ^ North Coast timetable Archived 17 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine NSW TrainLink
  82. ^ Southern timetable Archived 1 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine NSW TrainLink
  83. ^ "Xtra Precise Timing: Secrets of the XPT roster" Railway Digest April 2002 pages 20/21
  84. ^ "Comeng poised to win deal". Newsrail. Vol. 13, no. 10. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. October 1985. p. 302. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
  85. ^ "Thai train deal". Newsrail. Vol. 14, no. 2. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. February 1986. p. 52. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
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