Written By: Alex Thorn
Photo By: Ian Green, Alex Smith and Chris Nuthall
Page Last Updated: 13/7/20
The design of the Melbourne Hitachi EMUs was based off of the longer Harris trailer carriages made between 1967 to 1971. They were first introduced in 1972, to replace the wooden Tait trains that were by then, upwards of 60 years old. They get their name ‘Hitachi’ as it is the name of the Japanese company that designed the fleet. Electrical equipment was supplied by Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng). The M and D carriages were built by Martin & King while the T carriages by Victorian Railways at their Newport Workshops.
118M leaves the Cemetary siding at Springvale. (8/91)
Photo By: Ian Green |
An up Hitachi service departs Caulfield. (8/94)
Photo By: Ian Green |
The design included a longer car body than had previously been used for metropolitan trains, being entirely made of stainless steel. There were 3 doors per carriage side, similar to the later Comeng sets. They were the last suburban trains in Melbourne with no air conditioning and with windows that could be opened. They were the first to feature power operated doors and heating however. When delivered, the Hitachi’s composed of three types of carriages, the driving motor, trailer, and driving trailer, coded M, T, and D, respectively. The first M and D cars had cab front doors allowing passengers to move between car sets, however these doors were notorious for water leaks and breezes of air, so further sets did not include them, and those that did had the doorways patched over. It would also help stop unauthorized access into the carriage cabs.
The first of the Hitachi’s entered service in December 1972 on the St Kilda line. They sported a plain silver livery, with no stickering. They would typically run as M-T-T-M and M-D sets, allowing them to operate as 6 car sets.
The first of the Hitachi’s entered service in December 1972 on the St Kilda line. They sported a plain silver livery, with no stickering. They would typically run as M-T-T-M and M-D sets, allowing them to operate as 6 car sets.
178M trails a transfer from Ballarat at Sunshine. (15/6/08)
Photo By: Ian Green |
7M and 129M next to eachother in the Macaulay Sidings. (27/5/08)
Photo By: Ian Green |
By the late 1970’s all D type carriages had their cabs removed, turning them into T carriages. This allowed carriage sets of M-T-M coinciding with the opening of the City Loop. Sets would then typically run in M-T-M-M-T-M combinations. When The Met took over Vicrail operations in 1983, green and yellow side and front stickers were applied to the fleet. By this time, all un-refurbished Harris sets had been withdrawn and the Hitachi and Comeng fleets had become the mainstay of the metropolitan system.
In the mid-1990s, most of the Hitachi M cars received cab upgrades, with improved air-conditioning in the driver's cab and double-thickness windscreens with aluminium replacing the original rubber surrounds. After these upgrades were made, the non-upgraded M cars were no longer allowed to lead a train in revenue service, effectively making them B units. They would usually be the middle M cars in a 6 car train.
With privatisation in the late 1990s with Hillside and Bayside Trains, many sets received the signage of their operators, however their ‘Met’ livery remained. This continued under M-Train and Connex. By this time however, the Hitachi fleet were showing their age, and plans to withdraw the fleet were being thought about. In 2002, the new Siemens and X’trapolis trains were introduced to retire the Hitachi trains. Despite this, many sets remained in service for years after under Connex. With time however, most of the sets were being withdrawn and scrapped, as the new fleets of trains entered service. The original plan was to have the last of the sets withdrawn after the 2006 Commonwealth Games, however further minor refurbishments continued. The fleet progressively had The Met livery removed and replaced by Connex livery and signage. These final sets were retained by Connex and later Metro, as safety concerns surrounding the Siemens fleet had put them out of service temporarily. One set had even been purchased back from preservation group Elecrail, to be pressed back into service.
In the mid-1990s, most of the Hitachi M cars received cab upgrades, with improved air-conditioning in the driver's cab and double-thickness windscreens with aluminium replacing the original rubber surrounds. After these upgrades were made, the non-upgraded M cars were no longer allowed to lead a train in revenue service, effectively making them B units. They would usually be the middle M cars in a 6 car train.
With privatisation in the late 1990s with Hillside and Bayside Trains, many sets received the signage of their operators, however their ‘Met’ livery remained. This continued under M-Train and Connex. By this time however, the Hitachi fleet were showing their age, and plans to withdraw the fleet were being thought about. In 2002, the new Siemens and X’trapolis trains were introduced to retire the Hitachi trains. Despite this, many sets remained in service for years after under Connex. With time however, most of the sets were being withdrawn and scrapped, as the new fleets of trains entered service. The original plan was to have the last of the sets withdrawn after the 2006 Commonwealth Games, however further minor refurbishments continued. The fleet progressively had The Met livery removed and replaced by Connex livery and signage. These final sets were retained by Connex and later Metro, as safety concerns surrounding the Siemens fleet had put them out of service temporarily. One set had even been purchased back from preservation group Elecrail, to be pressed back into service.
279M on a Dandenong service at Southern Cross. (31/12/12)
Photo By: Alex Smith |
299M at Thomastown on an Epping service. (11/12/13)
Photo By: Alex Smith |
The final sets were withdrawn from service in 2014 and in the same year, a farewell Hitachi tour by Elecrail was operated to Craigieburn, South Morang and Sunbury. In 2015, the remaining 7 Hitachi sets had been put into storage at Newport Workshops. In 2018, one of the remaining Hitachi units was moved to North Bendigo Workshops for long-term storage, with further transfers in 2019.
Today, many units from the Hitachi fleet survive, probably because of their iconic status. They have found themselves around Australia with private owners and businesses to serve various purposes. Hitachi M car 187M is in the ARHS North Williamstown museum in an original condition. The last of the Hitachi sets to be retired are stored in Newport Workshops or North Bendigo.
Today, many units from the Hitachi fleet survive, probably because of their iconic status. They have found themselves around Australia with private owners and businesses to serve various purposes. Hitachi M car 187M is in the ARHS North Williamstown museum in an original condition. The last of the Hitachi sets to be retired are stored in Newport Workshops or North Bendigo.
Photos on board the Hitachi
Inside a Hitachi carriage. (2/1/13)
Photo By: Alex Smith
Photo By: Alex Smith
Approaching Southern Cross on the Flinders Street viaduct. (12/4/14)
Photo By: Alex Smith |
Near Eltham. (21/11/12)
Photo By: Alex Smith |
Hitachi Liveries
A Hitachi in The Met livery at West Footscray. (19/9/06)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
A Hitachi in The Met livery at Albion. (2/2/07)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
37M in the Connex livery in the Epping Yards. (18/1/08)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
Two Metro branded Hitachi sets in Mordialloc yard. (27/12/09)
Photo By: Ian Green |
All information sourced from Wikipedia