Project updates
Project milestones
Sydney’s next generation train was officially named the "Waratah" by the Minister for Transport, David Campbell, as he unveiled a four-carriage pre-production test train at Newcastle Port, 29 July 2009.
The pre-production test train manufacture will be completed at the Downer EDI Rail facility in Cardiff. It will be used to tune key systems, primarily the traction motor and brakes, and their integration on the Sydney’s CityRail network. Following static testing and network trials in Newcastle, the pre-production test train will start testing on the Sydney CityRail network early 2010.
PPP project marks another significant milestone (PDF, 27KB)
The first eight semi-fabricated carriages of the new CityRail Waratah trains departed from Dalian Port in China on Saturday, 14 November, 2009 and are expected to arrive at Newcastle Port in December where they will be transported to Cardiff for final assembly and manufacture.
View the Project Update report (PDF, 73KB)
Other milestones recently achieved
The Critical Design Review for the Waratah train, its training simulator and the Auburn Maintenance Facility was achieved on 29 June, 2009.
Detailed design complete for Sydney's new train (PDF, 22KB)
On 1 May 2009 a $22 million upgrade of Downer EDI Rail's Cardiff Manufacturing Facility was officially opened, by the Minister for Transport, David Campbell.
Upgraded rail facility will create jobs (PDF, 21KB)
The newly constructed simulator accommodation for crew training at Petersham was handed over to Reliance Rail in April 2009 for fit out and assembly of the new crew training simulators.
Upcoming
- Early 2010 – $220 million Auburn Maintenance Facility construction completion
- Early 2010 – Pre-production test train on Sydney’s CityRail network for tuning of components
- Early 2010 – Waratah crew training simulator delivered
- 2nd quarter 2010 – Manufacture and completion of the first eight-carriage train, followed by testing and reliability growth running on the CityRail network from mid 2010
- Late 2010 – Progressive introduction of the new Waratah trains into passenger service.




