All aboard! First C-series train ready for passengers

In a major milestone for local manufacturing in Western Australia, the State's first locally built and manufactured METRONET C-series train is now ready for passenger services.

The first C-series train will commence services on Monday April 8, operating on the Mandurah and Joondalup Train Lines.

The new 143-metre train is fitted out with close to 400 seats and is capable of carrying more than 1000 passengers. Once operational, the six-car C-series train will manage more than 103,000 daily passenger boardings.

Passengers will be able to enjoy additional doors for better access, modern passenger display information and USB ports under select seats in the six-car sets.

When the first new C-series train enters operation, it will be the first locally manufactured and built train to join the rail network in more than 30 years, and meet a 50 per cent local content target.

To commemorate the occasion, the first C-series train will take part in a commemorative 'first journey' on Sunday April 7. Community members will be able to enter a lottery to take part, with 150 places up for grabs.

More than 150 people are employed at the new Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing Facility.

Each C-series train is being built and manufactured locally at the Bellevue and more than 15 WA businesses across industrial areas in Perth are working to provide components for the railcars including: 
•    Bogie frames (Hofmann Engineering - Bassendean);
•    Battery boxes (Aerison – Forrestfield);
•    Pantographs (mounts on the roof of the train that connect with the overhead line) (Austbreck - Kewdale);
•    Passenger seats (McConnell - Bayswater);
•    Piping (Parker Hannifin - Welshpool); and
•    Metallic components (Unique Metal - Wangara).

Over the duration of the 10-year railcar contract, 246 new C-series railcars (41 trains) and six new Australind railcars will be built (two trains), helping to meet the growing demand for train services.
The Government also announced today that a planned expansion of the Bellevue facility had begun, with a contract recently being awarded to EastRail, a joint venture comprised of ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd and UGL Engineering Pty Ltd.

The expansion will see new diesel maintenance facilities constructed that will support regional trains including the Prospector, Avonlink and Australind.

The expansion will also see new maintenance facilities built for the existing B-series passenger trains, including two external train wash buildings, internal cleaning roads including platforms for ease of access, additional stowage roads, and a wheel lathe facility for machining, finishing, upkeep, and restoration of train wheels.