Railways and Tramways of Australia

25 August

Armidale/Moree Xplorer at Sydney Terminal, 11 January 1997. Photo: Weston Langford, www.westonlangford.com/images/photo/121772/

Off with a bang

The official launch of the Xplorer trains in New South Wales took place on 25 August 1993.

Built by ASEA Brown Boveri at Dandenong in Melbourne, the Xplorer Diesel Multiple Units were ordered to service areas of the state with low patronage. Sets usually consist of two or three carriages. Some services operate with two and three car sets coupled to form a five-car train. They were the first new trains in New South Wales designed to provide full access for people with disabilities. The interiors feature seats that recline and can be rotated.

In contrast to the XPTs, which have a power car at each end and intermediate trailer cars, each car of the Xplorer trains is powered. During testing they reached a speed of 160 km/h, but in general service their maximum speed is 145 km/h.

Xplorers have three different types of carriages, coded EA, EB and EC:

• EA: First Class driving power car

• EB: Economy Class intermediate power car

• EC: Economy Class driving power car.

An official launch was held at Regent Street (Mortuary) station, near Central. At midday the first set consisting of two cars broke through a banner to the sound of a whistle blowing, detonators and fireworks. Guests at the ceremony included New South Wales Premier John Faye, Minister for Transport Bruce Baird, State Rail Chief Executive John Brew, Countrylink Group General Manager Kim Finnimore, and representatives of ASEA Brown Boveri and regional organisations, as well as the media.

The Xplorer began its first run in public service to Tamworth on 5 October, before commencing regular services to Armidale and Moree in November. They later began regular operations to Canberra, Broken Hill and Griffith.

After their noisy launch, the Xplorer trains have continued to provide reliable service.

Bibliography

S Brien, ‘An Xplorer is born’, Railway Digest, vol. 31, no. 9, September 1993, pp 371–3.

‘Full north-west Xplorer service commences’, Railway Digest, vol. 32, no. 1, January 1994, pp 6–7.

J Hoyle, ‘ABB Transportation’s Xplorer/Endeavour railcars’, Railway Digest, vol. 33, no. 6, June 1995, pp 22–31.

‘Thousands welcome new train’, State Rail News, no. 8, October 1993, p 3.

‘Xplorer enters service’, Railway Digest, vol. 31, no. 11, November 1993, pp 458, 462–3.

‘Xplorers officially launched’, Railway Digest, vol. 31, no. 10, October 1993, pp 410–11.

SP33 Down Canberra Xplorer at Werai, between Moss Vale and Exeter, 21 April 2011. Photo: David Matheson.