Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: David Johnson and Ian Green
Page Last Updated: 7/5/21
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Unit Info:
Type: Electric Multiple Unit Number Built: 1 Scrapped: 1 4 Car Length: 78.4 meters Weight: 186 tonnes Traction Equipment: Mitsubishi Electric Power Supply: 1500 V DC Passenger Capacity: 386 seated passengers, 628 standing Max Speed: 130 km/h |
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Built by A Goninan & Co in Broadmeadow, the 4D was a prototype train delivered by rail in December 1991 for the Public Transport Corporation in Melbourne. The main idea of this prototype was to test the idea of double decker trains in Melbourne, as they had been highly successful in Sydney for decades previous. The 4 car set was based off the Tangara sets used in Sydney, and if the test had been successful, up to 50 similar units may have been delivered to the PTC. The train's name stood for "Double Deck Development and Demonstration", the 4 D’s. The set began operation in March 1992 after a media launch.
The 4D in the platform at Pakenham during the Yakkerboo festival.
Date Taken: 5th April 1992 Photo By: Ian Green |
The 4D running with a 3 carriage Comeng near Burnley.
Date Taken: May 1992 Photo By: Ian Green |
While the design of the set was based off of Cityrail’s Tangara sets used in Sydney, electrically it was more similar to Melbourne’s Comeng sets. It was on broad gauge bogies too, so it could be used on Melbourne’s metropolitan system. Control systems were also modified so that the train could be used in conjunction with a Comeng set. Other modifications such as the length and width of the set were necessary to allow it to remain within the Victorian loading gauge as well as the exclusion of front cab doors. The bodywork was predominantly stainless steel, with air conditioning, tinted windows and open gangways to allow passengers access between carriages. The 4 car set had a total passenger capacity of around 974 passengers, which is a lot more than a standard 3 car Comeng set. The set wore ‘The Met’ livery under PTC operation, and was mainly used on Belgrave and Lilydale line services. It was known that the train was physically too large for the Jolimont tunnel between Jolimont and West Richmond railway stations which ruled out use on the Hurstbridge and Epping lines. Given that the train was only a demonstrator, it was likely that production designs or future infrastructure plans would have dealt with this.
By 1993, the Victorian Government had announced it would not proceed with the acquisition of any further double deck trains deciding infrastructure changes required to accommodate the larger trains were too expensive and not practical.
By 1993, the Victorian Government had announced it would not proceed with the acquisition of any further double deck trains deciding infrastructure changes required to accommodate the larger trains were too expensive and not practical.
A Comeng bound for Epping passes a defective 4D at Spencer Street.
Date Taken: 20th August 1993 Photo By: Ian Green |
A Hitachi set pushes a failed 4D at Burnley.
Date Taken: February 2002 Photo By: Ian Green |
The set was arranged in an unconventional Driving Trailer-Motor-Motor-Driving Trailer (D-TM-TM-D) configuration which had not been seen in Melbourne previously. The set was numbered 6000T-5000M-5002M-6002T, which was far outside the previous numbering systems.
On its first day of operation, the set proved pretty unreliable, with some of the scheduled trips between Flinders Street and Box Hill being cancelled. Once in official service, the 4D was run coupled to a 3 car Comeng set until 1996, after a troubled conversion to driver-only operation, it was permitted to operate on its own. Failures would plague the set however, and it was not uncommon to see it being hauled or pushed by a Comeng set.
When the suburban system was split into two in 1998 before privatisation, it was allocated to Hillside Trains, which became Connex. It wore Hillside Trains decals on its sides.
On its first day of operation, the set proved pretty unreliable, with some of the scheduled trips between Flinders Street and Box Hill being cancelled. Once in official service, the 4D was run coupled to a 3 car Comeng set until 1996, after a troubled conversion to driver-only operation, it was permitted to operate on its own. Failures would plague the set however, and it was not uncommon to see it being hauled or pushed by a Comeng set.
When the suburban system was split into two in 1998 before privatisation, it was allocated to Hillside Trains, which became Connex. It wore Hillside Trains decals on its sides.
The 4D's driver console in 6002T.
Date Taken: 20th July 2005
Photo By: Ian Green
Date Taken: 20th July 2005
Photo By: Ian Green
In 1999, the set was stored after continued unreliability issues. It would be brought back into service in 2000, however only lasted a year. Its final year in service would be the start of 2002, when it was again revived, however after only 3 days, it failed again and it would never see service again. The 4D was handed back to Victorian Government Department of Infrastructure and under its own power, was transferred to Newport Workshops for long term storage. In 2006, RailCorp purchased the set and stripped it of any salvageable parts to be used on Tangara sets. By the start of 2006, the 4D was transferred by El Zorro to metal recyclers Sims Metal in Brooklyn for scrapping which took place shortly after.
Interestingly, RailCorp were thinking about using the set in Sydney, however the costs associated with making modifications to the 4D operable on the CityRail network were simply too high to justify the means and the idea never went ahead.
Interestingly, RailCorp were thinking about using the set in Sydney, however the costs associated with making modifications to the 4D operable on the CityRail network were simply too high to justify the means and the idea never went ahead.
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The 4D being scrapped in Sims Metal Brooklyn.
Date Taken: 30th March 2006
Photos By: Ian Green
Date Taken: 30th March 2006
Photos By: Ian Green
Unit Status
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
6000T-6002T |
The Met |
Hillside |
10 Mar 1991 - 2002 |
Scrapped |
Information sourced from Railway Digest Feb 1992 & Mar 1993 issues and Vicsig.