Written By: Alex Thorn
Photos By: Joshua Watson and Ian Green
Page Last Updated: 8/7/20
Sprinter 7005 in a fresh coat of paint at Southern Cross. (8/10/10)
Photo By: Ian Green |
The plan to build new trains for the Public Transport Corporation (PTC) came about in 1989, when a substantial increase in patronage had occurred over the years. This meant a reduction in maintenance and operating costs, faster and more frequent services became necessary. These aspects came into consideration as part of the New Deal for Country Passengers program in the 1980s. Tenders for the construction of the 22 railcars closed in November 1989 and was awarded to A Goninan & Co in Broadmedow, NSW.
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7007 on a transfer passes a tram at the level crossing in Glenhuntly. (13/5/08)
Photo By: Ian Green |
7012 in the new PTV Livery on a Seymour train at Kilmore East. (16/12/18)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
The new Sprinter railcars were first introduced between 1993 and 1995, with the first being delivered in December 1993. They were designed for shorter distance country passenger service and to supplement H car carriages. Lines to be serviced included Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Sunbury, Geelong and Seymour lines, however they eventually found themselves on many other lines. Their introduction also allowed V/line to withdraw the 4 DRC railcars from service. High capacity single class design was chosen with the ability to hold 90 passengers seated per carriage. The first 2 units were fully fitted out at Goninan, with the other 20 units internally fitted out at the PTC North Bendigo workshops. They would be transferred to Melbourne via standard gauge.
The cars are a fitted with a toilet and drinking fountains. Although designed for multiple unit operations, passengers cannot move between carriages. Wheelchair space is provided too. Seating can be comparably crammed compared to H and N set carriages meaning longer distance services to Albury and Echuca were ruled out, but units have visited both locations before. Mechanically, two air-cooled Deutz turbocharged V8 diesel engines provide power. Sprinter units were also the first Victorian passenger trains to run at 130 km/h, and testing was commenced on the Ballarat corridor. The earlier units wore PTC’s yellow and blue livery with later units wearing the standard V/line ‘blood and bone’ livery.
The cars are a fitted with a toilet and drinking fountains. Although designed for multiple unit operations, passengers cannot move between carriages. Wheelchair space is provided too. Seating can be comparably crammed compared to H and N set carriages meaning longer distance services to Albury and Echuca were ruled out, but units have visited both locations before. Mechanically, two air-cooled Deutz turbocharged V8 diesel engines provide power. Sprinter units were also the first Victorian passenger trains to run at 130 km/h, and testing was commenced on the Ballarat corridor. The earlier units wore PTC’s yellow and blue livery with later units wearing the standard V/line ‘blood and bone’ livery.
7007 at South Geelong with an up pass train. (9/94)
Photo By: Ian Green |
7015 and 7022 prepare to weighed at Kensington. (7/96)
Photo By: Ian Green |
In 1996, Sprinter carriages were temporarily withdrawn after a number of issues such as not being able to trigger level crossings were found. On 20 November 1996, two sets of Sprinters collided at Spencer Street station (now Southern Cross), resulting in unit 7019 being written off and scrapped.
The units have received modification and refurbishment over the years, with all units receiving V/line ‘Cheeseburger’ livery replacing the older V/line passenger livery. Unit 7012 caught fire at Seymour in December 2016, and returned to service in 2018 wearing the newest V/line PTV livery. It continues to be the only unit to receive this livery.
Today, the units are only used on select services as V/locity sets have replaces much of their previous work. They regularly run to Seymour and various peak services, while Metro hire a couple of units at a time to operate the non-electrified Stony Point service. Speculation that V/line plans to withdraw the Sprinter fleet has arisen in recent times as new V/locity sets enter service.
The units have received modification and refurbishment over the years, with all units receiving V/line ‘Cheeseburger’ livery replacing the older V/line passenger livery. Unit 7012 caught fire at Seymour in December 2016, and returned to service in 2018 wearing the newest V/line PTV livery. It continues to be the only unit to receive this livery.
Today, the units are only used on select services as V/locity sets have replaces much of their previous work. They regularly run to Seymour and various peak services, while Metro hire a couple of units at a time to operate the non-electrified Stony Point service. Speculation that V/line plans to withdraw the Sprinter fleet has arisen in recent times as new V/locity sets enter service.
7011 leads a Bendigo pass train out of Woodend. (26/2/20)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
7008 leads a Seymour train past Wallan Distant. (18/2/19)
Photo By: Joshua Watson |
Unit Status
Road No.7001
7002 7003 7004 7005 7006 7007 7008 7009 7010 7011 7012 7013 7014 7015 7016 7017 7018 7019 7020 7021 7022 |
LiveryV/line MK3
V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line PTV V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK2 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 V/line MK3 |
OwnerV/line
V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line V/line |
Begun ServiceDec 1993
Dec 1993 Jan 1994 Jan 1994 Feb 1994 Mar 1994 Mar 1994 Jun 1994 Jul 1994 Jul 1994 Aug 1994 Sep 1994 Oct 1994 Oct 1994 Nov 1994 Nov 1994 Dec 1994 Feb 1995 Mar 1995 May 1995 May 1995 Jun 1995 |
Current StateOperational
Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Scrapped Operational Operational Operational |
All information sourced from Australian Locomotive Guide (Peter Clark), Power To The Rails (John Scott) and Wikipedia