Frequently asked questions

The new trains are next generation trains and have been designed to last at least 30 years. Changes in technology and safety requirements have occurred and the new trains include features such as:

• Smart, energy-saving air-conditioning, which automatically adjusts to the number of passengers and conditions
• Increased security with additional internal and external Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) monitoring covering all areas of the train carriage
• Improved safety and crashworthiness design - including upgraded fire safety systems
• New carriage configuration which allows passengers to walk through the entire train so they can be evacuated quickly to either end of the train in an emergency event
• Additional passenger Emergency Help Points' on the train with direct access to the guards, supported by CCTV cameras
• Improved disability access features including additional handrails, priority seats with increased wheelchair spaces - 16 per eight carriage train
• Advanced passenger information and communication system with automatic announcements and electronic screens highlighting the trains stopping pattern and approaching station
• A wider set-back area in the train vestibule to promote faster boarding and alighting resulting in less station dwell time, and
• New communications technology which allows real time data feeds to relay train performance information and improve maintenance management.

Reliance Rail is owned by equity partners Downer EDI, AMP Capital Investors, RBS Social Infrastructure (Australia) Trust (formerly ABN AMRO) and International Public Partnerships (formerly Babcock and Brown Partnerships).

The Downer EDI Rail-Hitachi Joint Venture is responsible for the design and manufacture of the trains on behalf of Reliance Rail. Downer EDI Rail is also responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the new Auburn Maintenance Facility on behalf of Reliance Rail. Downer EDI Rail has subcontracted a major portion of the design and construction of the Auburn Maintenance Facility to the John Holland Group. Downer EDI Rail will also maintain the trains and the facility for the contract term of 30 years (2043).

All train building in Australia relies heavily on the importation of the train's major systems and equipment because we do not manufacture many of these major parts in this country.

This is the largest passenger train manufacturing/procurement project in Australian history. The 626 carriages will represent 50% of Sydney's electric suburban fleet.

For a project of this scale, both tender proponents for the final PPP contract each had overseas manufacture components to their bids.

The Changchun Railway Vehicles Company (CRC) in China is the largest passenger rail vehicle manufacturer in Asia and one of the few manufacturing companies in the world with proven capacity to meet the PPP project requirements.

There remains significant train manufacturing work to be done in the Hunter for the final assembly and testing and commissioning of the trains including flow-on effects to local business.

Some key manufacturing activities anticipated to occur at Downer EDI Rail’s Cardiff facility including:

a) Crew Cab manufacturing and assembly;
b) Major electrical and mechanical fit out, assembly and testing work for Cabs and electrical lockers; and
c) Assembly, integration and testing of all major components, equipment and the roof mounted sub-assemblies to produce complete cars and train sets.

The traction (power) inverters, auxiliary power supplies, traction motors and filter reactors will be manufactured by Hitachi in Japan and transported to Cardiff for integration into the train sets.

It is estimated that almost 300 people will be employed in the Hunter region for the final assembly and testing and commissioning of the trains, including flow-on effects to local business. This includes 190 mechanical and electrical engineering jobs and 29 apprenticeships.

The project will deliver a $200 million boost to the Hunter economy and confirm the region as the train manufacturing centre of NSW.

When the Auburn Maintenance Facility in Sydney opens, Reliance Rail expects another 100 new jobs will be created to maintain the fleet.

During the peak construction period (2008) of the $220 million train maintenance facility at Auburn around 250 people were employed.

RailCorp will be ready to accept the trains when they are available.

RailCorp's operational readiness planning is well underway across a range of areas such as infrastructure, ICT and mobilisation of the necessary crew for testing and commissioning of the new trains. In addition, a capital works program is underway to upgrade traction (power) supply across the CityRail network to support the progressive introduction of the new train into passenger service from late 2010.

The need to increase power supply was identified in 2006 and has been planned for and is being acted on.

RailCorp has advised that it is on track to deliver the capital works upgrade program.

The schedule for the traction supply program has been aligned with the staged roll out of the new trains into passenger service from late 2010.

The trains are being built to proven Australian and international standards, and in accordance with the recommendations of the Waterfall Inquiry.

The new trains must be accepted by RailCorp and Independent Transport Safety Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) in accordance with the NSW Railway Safety Act, following extensive testing on the CityRail network.

The trains will not be accepted for passenger service unless RailCorp and ITSRR are satisfied it meets performance and safety standards.

Reliance Rail advise they remain confident Sydney's new fleet of 78 suburban passenger trains (626 carriages) will be progressively delivered from late 2010.

In May 2009, the first carriage shell has rolled off the production line at the Changchun Railway Vehicles Company (CRC) in China. The partially built shells will be shipped to Cardiff near Newcastle where Downer EDI Rail-Hitachi Joint Venture will complete final manufacture and assembly before commissioning and testing on the CityRail network will commence.

A Pre-Production Test Vehicle is expected to begin testing on the CityRail Sydney network early 2010.

Like any consumer, the NSW Government will not pay for a product or service they have not received.

Reliance Rail only receive performance based payments. Payments are not made until agreed milestones have been achieved. The NSW Government will continue to monitor the Reliance Rail’s performance very closely.

Reliance Rail advises it is investigating ways of recovering time and that they remain confident Sydney's new fleet of 78 suburban passenger trains (626 carriages) will be progressively delivered from the end of 2010.

The contract has built-in incentives for meeting deadlines and Reliance Rail are paid only upon completion of agreed milestones.

Reliance Rail is responsible for delivering the Auburn Maintenance Facility project to RailCorp as its partner in the NSW Rolling Stock Public Private Partnership project. On behalf of Reliance Rail, Downer EDI Rail is responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the maintenance facility, and also the maintenance of the new fleet of trains. Downer EDI Rail has sub-contracted a major portion of the design and construction of the Auburn Maintenance Facility to the John Holland Group.

The Auburn Maintenance Facility will be the maintenance centre for CityRail's new fleet of passenger suburban trains – 78 eight-car sets (626 carriages) that will be delivered progressively from late 2010.

Downer EDI Rail will maintain the trains and the facility for the contract term, on behalf of Reliance Rail.

The facility’s equipment will be selected on its ability to reduce train maintenance downtime, in turn ensuring greater reliability and availability of Sydney’s new passenger train fleet.

The facility will incorporate a state-of-the-art fleet management system, which will allow maintenance personnel to monitor each train’s computer system in real time. This will enable maintenance personnel to see exactly what the train driver can see and advise appropriate action for situations as they are arise.

The site area extends approximately 2km in length x 100-300m wide. The Maintenance Facility building will be approximately 200m long x 80m wide, including 1,600m2 of office/amenities space.

This state-of-the-art facility will consist of seven maintenance roads, a maintenance shed with a maintenance capacity for 1,000 cars, an automatic train wash plant and underfloor wheel profiling lathe.

- Established on site - April 2007
- Construction began - September 2007
- Train maintenance - 2010-2043

Approximately 250 people were engaged during the project's peak construction period in 2008. During the operational phase of the project 100 people will be employed for the maintenance of Sydney's new train fleet for a minimum of 30 years. The recruitment process will be aligned with the progressive roll out of the trains.

The Critical Design Review (CDR) milestone marks the completion by Reliance Rail of the detailed design phase for the train, maintenance facility and the train simulators.

It is one of several performance based deliverables for which Reliance Rail receive a payment. The majority of the payments to Reliance Rail are for the availability of the trains for passenger service as they are progressively introduced onto the CityRail network from late 2010.

Reliance Rail has been paid $31m in milestone payments to date, which includes the latest Critical Design Review milestone payment of $10m.

Like any consumer, the NSW Government will not pay for a product or service they have not received.

Reliance Rail only receives performance based payments. During the delivery phase, payments are made when defined milestones have been achieved.

With the bulk of the payments Reliance Rail receiving being performance based following the delivery and availability of the trains for passenger service, there is a significant incentive for Reliance Rail to provide safe, reliable trains.

Reliance Rail remains confident delivery of the first train will be in late 2010. Opportunities are still being explored to recover the forecast 5-month delivery slippage on the delivery of the first set.

Operationally RailCorp will be ready to place the new trains into passenger service as soon as they are available.

The Hunter manufacturing phase will begin shortly with the final assembly and commissioning of the pre-production vehicle.

The pre-production vehicle will be running on the Sydney network from early 2010 to support the smooth introduction of the new fleet into service.

The assembly and commissioning of the subsequent train sets will follow and will be introduced progressively into passenger service from late 2010.

The pre-production test train is a key part of an innovative reliability assurance process to assist the smooth introduction of Sydney’s next generation train fleet into service for commuters.

The pre-production test train will test the Waratah’s key systems, primarily the traction motor and brakes, and their integration on the CityRail network. It will begin testing in Newcastle later this year, followed by testing in Sydney from early 2010.

These pre-production test train trials will provide an advanced platform for testing systems and components, aiding the long-term reliability of the Waratah fleet.

Following some initial static testing and network trials in Newcastle, the pre-production test train will undertake trials primarily at night on the Sydney CityRail network in early 2010.

The name was decided by the NSW Government and the choice was a very easy one. The Waratah is our state’s floral emblem.

The use of the NSW emblem as the train’s name reflects the significance of the Rolling Stock PPP Project to NSW - the positive impact the project will have on NSW public transport and the NSW economy.