Multiple Unit Passenger Trains: Queensland

Electric Multiple Units

Queensland Rail Electric multiple unit

Queensland Rail's Electric multiple unit (EMU) class trains were manufactured by Walkers, Maryborough for Queensland Rail between 1979 and 1986. They were the first EMUs in Queensland and some remain in service on the Queensland Rail City network. Following the introduction of the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet in 2017, withdrawals began in 2018 with EMU06 the first taken to North Ipswich Railway Workshops for stripping. By January 2019, 30 were in store. Originally it was envisaged all would be withdrawn once all of the NGRs had been delivered, but the remaining EMUs have no scheduled retirement date as of yet.

New Generation Rollingstock

The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) is a class of electric multiple units manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Savli, India for the Queensland Rail City network that entered service between December 2017 and December 2019. They are Queensland Rail's largest fleet of electric trains. In January 2014, the Queensland Government awarded a contract for 75 six-carriage electric multiple units to the Qtectic consortium of Aberdeen Asset Management, Bombardier Transportation, Itochu and John Laing under a 32-year public private partnership. They are the first QR electric multiple units not manufactured in Maryborough by Downer Rail (formerly Walkers). The NGRs were built in Savli, India. The design was completely new, and the trains are fitted with nose cones to resemble the existing Electric Tilt Trains for improved aerodynamic performance as opposed to the exposed Scharfenberg couplers used by the existing fleet.

Electric Tilt Trains

In March 1993, Queensland Rail issued a tender for the construction of two electric six-carriage tilting trains to operate on seleced Queensland passenger rail services. In October 1994, a contract was awarded to Walkers, Maryborough with Hitachi to supply the electrical and tilting equipment. After an extensive program, on 6 November 1998, Australia's first pair of tilting trains entered service on the Spirit of Capricorn between Brisbane and Rockhampton. With a journey time of seven hours, they shaved over two hours from the schedule operated by InterCity Express sets. In July 1999, a second daily service was introduced between Brisbane and Bundaberg. The Tilt Train is the fastest train in Australia, but has the same maximum allowed service speed as the V/Line VLocity train which operates in Victoria.

Interurban Multiple Units

The Interurban Multiple Units (IMU) are a long-distance optimised version of the Suburban Multiple Units. Internally, the IMUs differ from the SMUs, being fitted with larger seats, luggage racks and mobility-access toilets. Like most trains in the Citytrain fleet, two three-car IMUs can be coupled to form one six-car unit. The Interurban multiple units are manufactured by Walkers Limited/Downer EDI Rail, Maryborough for Queensland Rail's Citytrain division between 1996 and 2011. The IMU is divided into in three subclasses, units 101-110 as the 100 series, units 121-124 as the 120 series, and units 161-188, as the 160 series.

Diesel Multiple Units

The Savannahlander

QR 2000 class railcar

The 2000 class railcars, nicknamed The Silver Bullets, are a class of railcars built by Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea for the Queensland Railways between 1956 and 1971. A distinguishing feature of the 2000 class was its iconic sheeted stainless steel body. The two 2000 class railmotor prototypes had been constructed in 1956 by at the Ipswich Railway Workshops sheeted in satin finished aluminium. They operated services around Brisbane as well as being allocated to Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. Most were withdrawn in the early 1990s, with the last operating in regular service on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line in January 2000.

Queensland Rail retains nine units, of which three operate The Savannahlander tourist train, three are operational with the QR Heritage Division (and occasionally used by Queensland Rail for track inspections) and three are stored at Ipswich Workshops. Aurizon inherited two units from QR National which are used for track inspections. These units are now with DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum. Many others are preserved.

Multiple Unit Trains By State