Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Alex Thorn, Thomas McIntosh and Steve Nguyen
Page Last Updated: 27/12/20
The High Capacity Metro Trains, abbreviated to HCMT, are the newest fleet of suburban EMU’s for Metro Trains Melbourne. In 2016, the Victorian Government made an agreement with Evolution Rail consortium for the HCMT project. Companies involved in the project and manufacture of the new trains include Plenary Group, Downer EDi and Chinese company CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. The body of each car is built in China, before being shipped to Melbourne for assembly and final fit out. The government and The Network Development Plan Metropolitan Rail said that the new high capacity 7-car trains were chosen over double deck trains and 9 carriage options with older rolling-stock. The initial order is for 65 7 car trains.
9902 on a test run to Werribee at Galvin. (9/9/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
9917 on a test run to Werribee at South Yarra. (2/11/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
In 2018, a mock-up display to show off the new HCMT trains was situated in Birrarung Marr, Melbourne. It allowed Melbournians the opportunity to experience and learn about the new trains. In June of that year, manufacturing had commenced and the first body shells were arriving at Newport Workshops from CRRC's facility in China.
Each carriage has 3 doors per carriage side, which has become a standard feature in Melbourne asides the Siemens sets. They have a very different carriage configuration compared to existing trains with driving trailer, 2 motors, trailer, 2 motors, driving trailer being the standard set up for the HCMT. Each 7 car train is semi-permanently coupled together, and each driving trailer has a cover over the coupler. They are not designed to work with other HCMT sets, with the nose cover also designed to prevent train-surfing. They are based off the ‘type A’ design used by Changchun Railway Vehicles, having a striking and streamlined appearance. They have a total passenger capacity of 1,380 as a 7 car set, with capabilities to be extended to 10 cars in the future. Trains will have Wi-Fi connection, PID destination boards and 28 wheelchair spaces.
The first HCMT set entered revenue service on Sunday the 27th of December 2020, set 11 operated the 08:32 Pakenham - City Loop service. Originally the HCMTs were expected to begin testing in November 2018 and enter passenger service on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in 2019, however delays prevented this. Testing has so far been conducted on many different lines across Melbourne's suburban network. Most testing has primarily been between Pakenham, Werribee and Sunbury. They will eventually become the primary rolling-stock used in the Metro Rail Tunnel when it opens in 2025. The HCMTs are currently based out of the Pakenham East depot, specifically made of the new trains.
Each carriage has 3 doors per carriage side, which has become a standard feature in Melbourne asides the Siemens sets. They have a very different carriage configuration compared to existing trains with driving trailer, 2 motors, trailer, 2 motors, driving trailer being the standard set up for the HCMT. Each 7 car train is semi-permanently coupled together, and each driving trailer has a cover over the coupler. They are not designed to work with other HCMT sets, with the nose cover also designed to prevent train-surfing. They are based off the ‘type A’ design used by Changchun Railway Vehicles, having a striking and streamlined appearance. They have a total passenger capacity of 1,380 as a 7 car set, with capabilities to be extended to 10 cars in the future. Trains will have Wi-Fi connection, PID destination boards and 28 wheelchair spaces.
The first HCMT set entered revenue service on Sunday the 27th of December 2020, set 11 operated the 08:32 Pakenham - City Loop service. Originally the HCMTs were expected to begin testing in November 2018 and enter passenger service on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in 2019, however delays prevented this. Testing has so far been conducted on many different lines across Melbourne's suburban network. Most testing has primarily been between Pakenham, Werribee and Sunbury. They will eventually become the primary rolling-stock used in the Metro Rail Tunnel when it opens in 2025. The HCMTs are currently based out of the Pakenham East depot, specifically made of the new trains.
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The interior of HCMT Set 11 on it's first run from Pakneham. (27/12/20)
Photos By: Steve Nguyen
Photos By: Steve Nguyen
Unit Status
Click on underlined Road No. for more photos
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Service Life |
Current State |
9001-9901 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
|
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
|
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
|
9005-9905 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9006-9906 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9007-9907 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9008-9908 |
Metro Trains |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
9009-9909 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
|
9011-9911 |
Metro Trains |
Metro Trains |
27 Dec 2020 - Present |
Operational |
9012-9912 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9013-9903 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9014-9914 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9015-9915 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9016-9916 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
Metro Trains |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
|
9018-9918 |
Metro Trains |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Testing |
9019-9919 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9020-9920 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9021-9921 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9022-9922 |
Plain |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9023-9923 |
Metro Trains |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
9024-9924 |
Metro Trains |
Metro Trains |
Yet To Begin |
Delivered |
All information sourced from Wikipedia