Comeng (train)
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| Comeng (Melbourne) | |
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 EDi-refurbished Comeng in Connex livery |
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 Interior of EDi-refurbished M car, looking toward driver's cab. |
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| In service | 1981 - Current |
| Manufacturer | Commonwealth Engineering |
| Built at | Dandenong |
| Replaced | Tait cars |
| Refurbishment | 2000 - 2003 Alstom, EDI Rail |
| Constructed | 1981 - 1988 |
| Number built | 190 trainsets (570 cars) |
| Number in service | 182 trainsets (546 cars) |
| Number scrapped | 24 cars scrapped/stored |
| Formation | Three car set (Driving motor-trailer-driving motor (M-T-M)). Can be marshalled into 6-car unit. |
| Fleet numbers | 301M-1001T-302M through 697M-1199T-698M |
| Capacity | 268 seated, 763 crush load per 3-car unit (Alstom refurbished)[1] |
| Operator | Connex Melbourne |
| Depots | All Connex depots |
| Lines served | All Melbourne suburban (except Stony Point) |
| Specifications | |
| Car body | Stainless steel |
| Car length | 24m |
| Width | 3050mm |
| Height | 3835mm (excluding pantograph) |
| Intercar connections | 2 per 3-car set, open gangway. |
| Maximum speed | 115km/h |
| Weight | 49.76t (unrefurbished) |
| Gauge | Broad (1600mm, 5' 3") |
| Voltage | 1500V DC overhead |
| Braking system | Tread Brakes (First order), Disc Brakes (Second order) |
The Comeng train is a type of electric train that operates on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. They first appeared on the network in VicRail "teacup" livery in 1981 to replace the last of the then-60 year old Tait trains. More were ordered after the failed refurbishment and subsequent withdrawal of the Harris trains. 570 carriages (380 M cars and 190 T cars) were built in total, by Comeng (Commonwealth Engineering) at their Dandenong factory.
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[edit] Description
The Comeng trains are single deck and are semi-permanently coupled as M-T-M (motor-trailer-motor) sets, but these sets spend much of their time coupled in pairs to make six-carriage sets.
Comeng trains have power operated doors that must be pulled open by hand but are closed by the driver. The trains were the first suburban trains in Melbourne to have air-conditioning in the passenger saloon. (the older Hitachi trains having had driver air-conditioning only[2] )
The design of Melbourne's Comeng trains is closely related to that of TransAdelaide's diesel-electric 3000 class railcars.
[edit] Refurbishment
From 2000 to 2003, the two train operators at the time, Connex and the now defunct M>Train, introduced a refurbishment program for the trains. Connex had Alstom refurbish their trains,[3] while EDI Rail refurbished M>Train's vehicles.[4] Both refurbishments had operator-specific livery applied.
The Alstom and EDI Rail sets have a number of differences, including:
- Interior arrangement - The interior LED displays on the M>Train Comeng trains were in the middle, as opposed to being at both ends of the carriage on Connex sets.
- Upholstery - Seats in M>Train Comeng trains are blue, while Connex opted for rainbow-textured seats.
- Seating arrangement - Connex provided a different seating layout to M>Train.
- Exterior front panels - Information on the train's terminus is displayed on top of the window on M>Train fleets, while Connex trains have them displaying on the left window (in the pre-refurbishment style).
- Cab layout - The EDI Comeng trains retained a second full-size seat on the right-hand side of the cab, originally used for the guard, whereas the Alstom sets only have a small seat, the same size as the passenger ones.
- Cab fittings - The EDI Comeng trains also have a windscreen-wiper on both sides, the Alstom sets only having one on the drivers side.
- Light fittings - The Alstom Comeng trains have grated light coverings, while the EDI type retained the original flat coverings.
Both sets had CCTV and emergency assistance panels added as part of the refurbishment program. [5]
After Connex assumed responsibility for all of Melbourne's suburban train network, the EDI refurbished trains had the M>Train exterior logos removed, and later received Connex blue and yellow side stripes, and a repainted front panel.
[edit] Concorde Program
On December 27, 2006 Both Alstom and EDi Refurbished Comengs were allowed to run system wide.[6] The electronics of both Comeng types was altered to make them electronically compatible with each other, with both the PID voices and display formatting altered. Both types of Comeng can run system wide and can run in multiple unit with trains of the same or different type.
[edit] Stored carriages
Nine Comeng carriages have been scrapped or removed from service.[7]
Three carriages have been scrapped: 315M, 388M and 1165T. 315M was burnt at Hurstbridge, 388M was hit by V/Line locomotive N457 at Officer, and 1165T was burnt at Northcote.
Another six carriages have been stored: 500M, 533M, 671M, 672M, 1109T and 1186T. 500M was burnt out at Sandringham in 2002[8] and can be seen in a yard close to the North Williamstown station side of the Newport railway workshops. 533M and 671M were also burnt out by vandals. 1109T was damaged in the Epping collision[9], and spare cars 672M and 1186T underwent a prototype refurbishment before being stored.
[edit] Comeng Trains in Popular Culture
In the video clip "All Torn Down" by Melbourne band; "The Living End" The band is seen boarding an Un-refurbished Comeng.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Vicsig: Comeng Trains
- ^ Vicsig: Hitachi Trains
- ^ MINISTER FOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY: '$150 MILLION INVESTMENT IN RAIL MANUFACTURING' - August 17, 2001
- ^ Australian Railway Industry Corporation: EDI Rail
- ^ Department of Infrastructure New and refurbished trains and trams
- ^ Railpage Australia: Sightings of mixed sets in service
- ^ Vicsig: Comeng Trains
- ^ Vicsig: 500M burnt out at Hampton
- ^ Vicsig: Comeng-1109T
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