Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Ian Green, Alex Thorn, Thomas McIntosh, Thomas Bulic, Alex Smith and Chris Nuthall
Page Last Updated: 23/7/20
Siemens 737M in the M>Train 'Swirl' livery at Southern Cross. (27/4/05)
Photo By: Ian Green 
Two Siemens sets, one with the 'Swirl' and the other with Met stickers. (10/03)
Photo By: Ian Green |
In March 2000, M-Train decided to order 62 new trains to help retire the Hitachi fleet that had been in service for around 30 years. The operator decided to contact Siemens to order 62 3-car Nexas sets, which had taken designs from the Siemens Modular Metro which had been used in various parts of the world.
Construction of the sets took place at Siemens SGP Verkehrstechnik GmbH in Vienna, Austria. The first of the trains were completed in 2002, however just before delivery, National Express handed the M-Train business back to the Government of Victoria, meaning the first Siemens Nexas sets were delivered to the government. Deliveries began in April 2002, however the official launch would not take place until March 2003. The new trains were configured in the standard M-T-M combination, with a full steel body and only two doors per car side. Each set included open gangways to allow passengers access between carriages. The Siemens sets wore a full M-Train livery upon delivery, however a newer yellow and blue ‘swirl’ livery would be worn later on. As more sets were delivered after the cessation of M-Train, plain liveried sets were delivered, later with a ‘Met’ style yellow and green sticker placed on the fronts. Upon entering service with Connex in 2004, standard Connex livery began to be applied to the sets. Further sets were ordered and delivered by 2006, bringing the total to 72 3-car sets. |
In April 2003, the fleet that had entered service were withdrawn due to braking and traction issues. In 2006, it was discovered that the Siemens trains were experiencing braking issues again, with numerous overshooting platform incidents occurring. Many sets were withdrawn from service temporarily, causing a shortage of operational trains for Connex. This resulted with older Hitachi sets re-entering service to fulfil demand. A ban was placed on the remaining sets for 3-car operation, until the issue was resolved. Upgrades and sanding equipment was installed across the entire fleet by 2011, and 3-car operation could resume.
After Metro Trains Melbourne took over the operation of the suburban network in November 2009, Connex logos on the fleet were covered with Metro stickers, until all sets were wearing a full Metro livery in 2010. In 2016, Metro undertook a refurbishment program which included interior upgrades such as extra handrails, new seat pad designs and covers, anti-graffiti windows and PTV signage, in place of Metro signage on the front and sides of the sets. Further upgrades took place from 2019, with gangway and sound systems being adjusted. Repainted front panels and numbering was also placed on the front for easy identification.
Today, they serve the Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Frankston, Pakenham, Sandringham, Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown lines. They do not run on other lines which are predominantly served by X’trapolis sets.
After Metro Trains Melbourne took over the operation of the suburban network in November 2009, Connex logos on the fleet were covered with Metro stickers, until all sets were wearing a full Metro livery in 2010. In 2016, Metro undertook a refurbishment program which included interior upgrades such as extra handrails, new seat pad designs and covers, anti-graffiti windows and PTV signage, in place of Metro signage on the front and sides of the sets. Further upgrades took place from 2019, with gangway and sound systems being adjusted. Repainted front panels and numbering was also placed on the front for easy identification.
Today, they serve the Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Frankston, Pakenham, Sandringham, Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown lines. They do not run on other lines which are predominantly served by X’trapolis sets.
Four Connex liveried Siemens sets sit in the yard at Mordialloc. (17/7/07)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Mixed liveried Siemens during the transition of network operators. (14/12/09)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Siemens 804M near Strathmore on a Craigieburn service. (25/4/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
823M-2562T-824M with an Upfield service at Moreland. (26/1/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
Unit Status
Road No.701M-702M
703M-704M 705M-706M 707M-708M 709M-710M 711M-712M 713M-714M 715M-716M 717M-718M 719M-720M 721M-722M 723M-724M 725M-726M 727M-728M 729M-730M 731M-732M 733M-734M 735M-736M 737M-738M 739M-740M 741M-742M 743M-744M 745M-746M 747M-748M 749M-750M 751M-752M 753M-754M 755M-756M 757M-758M 759M-760M 761M-762M 763M-764M 765M-766M 767M-768M 769M-770M 771M-772M 773M-774M 775M-776M 777M-778M 779M-780M 781M-782M 783M-784M 785M-786M 787M-788M 789M-790M 791M-792M 793M-794M 795M-796M 797M-798M 799M-800M 801M-802M 803M-804M 805M-806M 807M-808M 809M-810M 811M-812M 813M-814M 815M-816M 817M-818M 819M-820M 821M-822M 823M-824M 825M-826M 827M-828M 829M-830M 831M-832M 833M-834M 835M-836M 837M-838M 839M-840M 841M-842M 843M-844M |
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Begun ServiceMay 2005
Apr 2004 Apr 2004 Apr 2003 May 2004 Jul 2004 Dec 2003 Dec 2003 Jun 2004 Sep 2003 Apr 2003 Apr 2004 Jul 2004 Jul 2004 Sep 2003 Jul 2004 Nov 2003 Jun 2004 Nov 2003 Jun 2004 Dec 2003 Sep 2004 Jan 2004 Jan 2004 Feb 2004 Jun 2004 Feb 2004 Feb 2004 Feb 2004 Aug 2004 Feb 2004 Feb 2004 Jun 2004 Oct 2004 May 2004 Jun 2004 Aug 2004 Unknown Oct 2004 Mar 2005 Mar 2005 Sep 2004 Aug 2004 Oct 2004 Apr 2005 Feb 2005 Feb 2005 Jan 2005 Apr 2005 Mar 2005 Mar 2005 Jan 2005 Feb 2005 Feb 2005 Mar 2005 Mar 2005 Apr 2005 Mar 2005 Mar 2005 Mar 2005 Apr 2005 Mar 2005 Oct 2005 Oct 2005 Jan 2006 Jan 2006 Dec 2005 Dec 2005 Jan 2006 Dec 2005 Jan 2006 Jan 2006 |
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Siemens Interior
Prior to refurbishment and reduced seating. (13/1/13)
Photo By: Alex Smith |
Post refurbishment, the seat design and layout have been altered. (2/1/15)
Photo By: Ian Green |
Seats fitted with the Connex design. (14/6/14)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
The disabled seating area. (3/6/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
Photos of Siemens Trains
723M with a Sunbury service at Flagstaff. (17/1/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
793M on a Werribee service at Footscray. (17/1/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
746M near Oak Park with a Craigieburn service. (17/9/14)
Photo By: Alex Smith |
799M on platform 13 at Flinders Street. (26/6/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
A Connex liveried Siemens at Tecoma with a test run from Belgrave. (15/2/06)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
A Siemens next to an Alstom Comeng at Belgrave. (15/2/06)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
An M>Train 'Wave' liveried Siemens at Upper Ferntree Gully. (15/2/06)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
An M>Train 'Wave' liveried Siemens in Bayswater Depot. (15/2/06)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
All information sourced from Vicsig and Wikipedia