NSW TrainLink D set

In May 2014, the Government of New South Wales announced its intention to purchase new carriages for the NSW TrainLink Intercity network. The new trains will replace the V sets and allow the H sets to be cascaded to Sydney Trains services.[3][1]

In August 2014, expressions of interest from manufacturers were called for.[4][5] The following parties responded:[6][7]

• Alstom
• Bombardier Transportation
• Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
• Downer Rail / Changchun Railway Vehicles
• Hyundai Rotem
• Stadler Rail
• UGL Rail / Mitsubishi Electric / CSR Corporation

In July 2015, the government announced that Alstom, Downer/Changchun, Stadler, and UGL/Mitsubishi Electric/CSR had been shortlisted to tender.[8] Following the merger of CSR and the parent company of Changchun Railway Vehicles, Hyundai Rotem replaced CSR as a partner in the UGL/Mitsubishi Electric consortium.[9] The consortia provided two variants of their designs - a longer train and shorter train.[9] The Hyundai Rotem/UGL/Mitsubishi Electric consortium was announced as the successful bidder in August 2016.[10][11] The companies formed a joint venture called RailConnect to manage the project.[12] The trains are being built by Hyundai Rotem's Changwon factory in South Korea.[13]

The initial contract covered the supply and maintenance of the 512 carriages which would consist of 77 4-car trains and 34 6-car trains, as well as the construction of the Kangy Angy Maintenance Centre.[8][14][15] which was completed in August 2020.[16] The maintenance contract runs for fifteen years from the delivery of the first train with an option for a five-year extension.[13] In February 2019 a further 42 carriages were ordered to extend 21 of the 77 4-car trains into 6-car trains to allow for more 10-car train operations especially on the South Coast line during peak hour.[17]

A contract was let to Downer EDI to make modifications and upgrades to existing rail infrastructure across the electrified network to accommodate the New Intercity Fleet.[18] Platform extensions at multiple stations were also required to accommodate the 10-car sets.

The first two 10-carriage trains (D2, D102, D3, D103) were delivered in December 2019 and testing began the following month.[1][19] The remaining trains are in the process of being delivered, with sets D4, 104, D5 and D105 having been delivered by October 2020.

The trains are double deck electric multiple units measuring 163 metres for an 8-car set or 204 metres for a 10 car-set.[20] They will include accessible toilets and dedicated space for luggage, prams, bicycles and wheelchairs. Fixed seats on the upper and lower decks will be in a two by two arrangement. The seating will include cup holders, tray tables and arm rests. Each seat will feature a charging station for mobile devices.[12] The trains are being designed to be operated with or without guards, with tender documents stating the trains must support one-man operation.[21]

The new trains are wider than the V sets they replace and required modifications to be made to parts of the Blue Mountains line route to create sufficient clearance from adjacent structures.[15] A contract was awarded to the Continuum Alliance, an alliance between Transport for NSW, CPB Contractors and Lendlease, to make these modifications. Work started in February 2019[22] and was completed in July 2020.[23][24]

The trains are expected to operate on the following services:[1]

• Blue Mountains: Central to Lithgow
• Central Coast & Newcastle: Central to Newcastle
• South Coast: Bondi Junction / Central to Port Kembla & Kiama

• Media related to NSW TrainLink D sets at Wikimedia Commons
• Project Page - Transport for NSW