Written By: Duck Wilson
Photos By: Thomas Bulic and Dean Jones
Page Last Updated: 25/7/20
The XPLorer Railcar is a class of Diesel Multiple Unit in service with NSW Trains. Built by ABB Transportation and first entering service with CountryLink in 1993, the class is mechanically identical to the Endeavour Railcars, but features a higher level of passenger amenity. The original order was for seventeen carriages, however the fleet now numbers twenty-three carriages of three types.
The class originally entered service as “Explorer Railcars”, however the name was soon changed to “XPLorer” to better link the trains to the XPTs.
The class originally entered service as “Explorer Railcars”, however the name was soon changed to “XPLorer” to better link the trains to the XPTs.
EC2523 with #SP34 at Burradoo. (14/6/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
EA2502 with #SP33 at Tallong. (14/8/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
Origins
The origins of the XPLorer railcars can be traced back to political decisions of 1990.
From 1985 to 1990, the Northern Tablelands Express had operated a daily service between Armidale and Sydney using XPTs and loco-hauled HUB/RUB carriages. with a DEB set providing a connection at Werris Creek to Moree. In 1990, during a rationalisation of rail services across NSW, the Northern Tablelands Express was truncated to Tamworth (allowing one XPT set to operate it as a day return from Sydney, freeing up stock for North Coast services) and the DEB Moree connection was replaced by a road coach. A Sydney – Armidale coach service was introduced in place of the truncated XPT service.
The Federal Election of March 1990 then saw the National Party lose several seats in northern NSW where rail services had been cut and decided to reverse the policy that saw the rail services removed. For this, new trains were required – the XPLorer Railcars, announced on February 1991 at the cost of $38 Million. On 5th April 1992, it was announced that a modified design would also be built for CityRail services – this became the Endeavour Railcars.
Technical Specifications
The new trains were intended as a railcar version of the XPT – they had to be able to achieve XPT speeds and provide an XPT-spec level of passenger facilities.
The XPLorer Railcars were built at ABB Transportation’s plant at Dandenong, Victoria, alongside the Endeavour Railcars for CityRail. ABB based its design for the XPLorer and Endeavour railcars on the ADP/APQ Railcar in service built by Comeng in 1987 for WestRail (now TransWA)’s Australind service between Perth and Bunbury. They also offered a design based on the IC3 railcars in service with the Danish State Railways, but a review found the latter’s air-cooled engines unsuitable for Australian conditions.
Originally, seventeen carriages were built for, with a further four being ordered in November 1994. In 2002, two Endeavour carriages were converted into XPLorer carriages to bring the total number to twenty-three, all of which remain in service today.
Three variations of XPLorer carriage were built:
EA – Driving Carriage seating 42 First Class passengers and housing the buffet.
EB – Intermediate Carriage seating 66 Economy Class Passengers
EC – Driving Carriage seating 50 Economy Class Passengers and housing a disabled toilet facility.
Each carriage is fitted with a 6-cylinder turbocharged Cummins KTA-19R engine developed 513 horsepower for propulsion and a 6-cylinder Cummins LT10R(G) engine to power a Newage Stamford UCI274F alternator, supplying power for air-conditioning and lighting.
XPLorer Railcars can operate as two (EA – EC), three (EA – EB – EC), four (EA – EB – EB – EC) or even five (EA – EB – EB – EB -EC; uncommon) sets. Multiple sets can be coupled for separations/ amalgamations en route, forming longer trains, with the maximum possible length being eight carriages.
The Endeavour Railcars, built for CityRail alongside the XPLorer class and entering service in 1994/5, are mechanically identical to the XPLorers, but feature a lower level of passenger amenity and lack intermediate non-driving cars. Owing to their mechanical identity, the two classes are inter-operable.
The maximum speed of XPLorer Railcars is 160km/hr, matching the top in-service speed of the XPT. However, the XPLorer’s top speed is limited to 145km/hr in regular service.
The origins of the XPLorer railcars can be traced back to political decisions of 1990.
From 1985 to 1990, the Northern Tablelands Express had operated a daily service between Armidale and Sydney using XPTs and loco-hauled HUB/RUB carriages. with a DEB set providing a connection at Werris Creek to Moree. In 1990, during a rationalisation of rail services across NSW, the Northern Tablelands Express was truncated to Tamworth (allowing one XPT set to operate it as a day return from Sydney, freeing up stock for North Coast services) and the DEB Moree connection was replaced by a road coach. A Sydney – Armidale coach service was introduced in place of the truncated XPT service.
The Federal Election of March 1990 then saw the National Party lose several seats in northern NSW where rail services had been cut and decided to reverse the policy that saw the rail services removed. For this, new trains were required – the XPLorer Railcars, announced on February 1991 at the cost of $38 Million. On 5th April 1992, it was announced that a modified design would also be built for CityRail services – this became the Endeavour Railcars.
Technical Specifications
The new trains were intended as a railcar version of the XPT – they had to be able to achieve XPT speeds and provide an XPT-spec level of passenger facilities.
The XPLorer Railcars were built at ABB Transportation’s plant at Dandenong, Victoria, alongside the Endeavour Railcars for CityRail. ABB based its design for the XPLorer and Endeavour railcars on the ADP/APQ Railcar in service built by Comeng in 1987 for WestRail (now TransWA)’s Australind service between Perth and Bunbury. They also offered a design based on the IC3 railcars in service with the Danish State Railways, but a review found the latter’s air-cooled engines unsuitable for Australian conditions.
Originally, seventeen carriages were built for, with a further four being ordered in November 1994. In 2002, two Endeavour carriages were converted into XPLorer carriages to bring the total number to twenty-three, all of which remain in service today.
Three variations of XPLorer carriage were built:
EA – Driving Carriage seating 42 First Class passengers and housing the buffet.
EB – Intermediate Carriage seating 66 Economy Class Passengers
EC – Driving Carriage seating 50 Economy Class Passengers and housing a disabled toilet facility.
Each carriage is fitted with a 6-cylinder turbocharged Cummins KTA-19R engine developed 513 horsepower for propulsion and a 6-cylinder Cummins LT10R(G) engine to power a Newage Stamford UCI274F alternator, supplying power for air-conditioning and lighting.
XPLorer Railcars can operate as two (EA – EC), three (EA – EB – EC), four (EA – EB – EB – EC) or even five (EA – EB – EB – EB -EC; uncommon) sets. Multiple sets can be coupled for separations/ amalgamations en route, forming longer trains, with the maximum possible length being eight carriages.
The Endeavour Railcars, built for CityRail alongside the XPLorer class and entering service in 1994/5, are mechanically identical to the XPLorers, but feature a lower level of passenger amenity and lack intermediate non-driving cars. Owing to their mechanical identity, the two classes are inter-operable.
The maximum speed of XPLorer Railcars is 160km/hr, matching the top in-service speed of the XPT. However, the XPLorer’s top speed is limited to 145km/hr in regular service.
EA2504 with #SP33 at Picton. (18/5/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
EA2503 with #SP35 at East Hill. (22/10/19)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
Entry into Service
When they entered service, the XPLorers replaced DEB and locomotive-hauled sets and allowed XPTs to be transferred to other services.
The first XPLorer entered service in October 1993 on the Northern Tablelands XPLorer service to Tamworth, replacing the XPT. As sufficient stock became available, the service was extended to Armidale and the Werris Creek – Moree service re-instated: The train runs as one to Werris Creek where the two portions split (or amalgamate on the southbound run). An additional Sydney – Armidale service (without the Moree portion) also commenced in 1993, running to Armidale on Friday nights and returning to Sydney on Sunday nights, but patronage for this service was poor and it was discontinued in June 1995. Around this time, the name was changed from “Explorer” to “XPLorer”, to better fit with the XPT.
The XPT set subsequently replaced the locomotive-hauled Sydney – Grafton day service, the Grafton Express.
In December 1993, the XPLorer Railcars entered service on the Sydney – Canberra service, replacing a DEB Set-operated train. At first this was twice daily, with one train departing Sydney & Canberra in the morning and evening. Subsequently, a third, afternoon departure from both cities was added, bringing the service to the three-times daily frequency maintained today.
In October 2000, XPLorer railcars took over the weekly Sydney – Griffith service from a locomotive-hauled train, operating attached to a Canberra service between Sydney and Goulburn. Originally running only on Saturdays (to Griffith) and Sundays (to Sydney), a second service was introduced in September 2019, running on Wednesdays (to Griffith) and Thursdays (to Sydney).
In 2002, Endeavour Set N15 was released by CityRail for conversion into XPLorer carriages – TE2815 became EC2528 and LE2865 became EA2508. The acquisition of these carriages allowed the Silver City XPLorer (later known as the Outback XPLorer) to Broken Hill to commence, operating to Broken Hill on Mondays and returning on Tuesdays.
All twenty-three carriages passed to NSW Trainlink when the latter replaced CountryLink as the NSW regional railway operator in 2013.
The entire fleet is maintained at Eveleigh depot in Sydney, which also maintains a majority of the Endeavour fleet and several Sydney Trains Electric Multiple Units.
Initial Problems
The XPLorers’ initial entry into service was far from smooth. The plug doors proved troublesome during the first months of service. ABB had gone to much effort to re-locate the engines under the floors, which had the unfortunate side effect of making them inaccessible whilst in platforms, due to the outward opening access hatches. On the open line, it was found that these hatches fouled adjacent tracks if opened on multi-track lines with standard track spacing, which meant other trains had to be stopped or diverted whilst fault finding and rectification took place.
As a result, the XPLorers were nicknamed “Xploders” due to their initially unreliable nature, a nickname which stuck long after the initial problems had been resolved.
When they entered service, the XPLorers replaced DEB and locomotive-hauled sets and allowed XPTs to be transferred to other services.
The first XPLorer entered service in October 1993 on the Northern Tablelands XPLorer service to Tamworth, replacing the XPT. As sufficient stock became available, the service was extended to Armidale and the Werris Creek – Moree service re-instated: The train runs as one to Werris Creek where the two portions split (or amalgamate on the southbound run). An additional Sydney – Armidale service (without the Moree portion) also commenced in 1993, running to Armidale on Friday nights and returning to Sydney on Sunday nights, but patronage for this service was poor and it was discontinued in June 1995. Around this time, the name was changed from “Explorer” to “XPLorer”, to better fit with the XPT.
The XPT set subsequently replaced the locomotive-hauled Sydney – Grafton day service, the Grafton Express.
In December 1993, the XPLorer Railcars entered service on the Sydney – Canberra service, replacing a DEB Set-operated train. At first this was twice daily, with one train departing Sydney & Canberra in the morning and evening. Subsequently, a third, afternoon departure from both cities was added, bringing the service to the three-times daily frequency maintained today.
In October 2000, XPLorer railcars took over the weekly Sydney – Griffith service from a locomotive-hauled train, operating attached to a Canberra service between Sydney and Goulburn. Originally running only on Saturdays (to Griffith) and Sundays (to Sydney), a second service was introduced in September 2019, running on Wednesdays (to Griffith) and Thursdays (to Sydney).
In 2002, Endeavour Set N15 was released by CityRail for conversion into XPLorer carriages – TE2815 became EC2528 and LE2865 became EA2508. The acquisition of these carriages allowed the Silver City XPLorer (later known as the Outback XPLorer) to Broken Hill to commence, operating to Broken Hill on Mondays and returning on Tuesdays.
All twenty-three carriages passed to NSW Trainlink when the latter replaced CountryLink as the NSW regional railway operator in 2013.
The entire fleet is maintained at Eveleigh depot in Sydney, which also maintains a majority of the Endeavour fleet and several Sydney Trains Electric Multiple Units.
Initial Problems
The XPLorers’ initial entry into service was far from smooth. The plug doors proved troublesome during the first months of service. ABB had gone to much effort to re-locate the engines under the floors, which had the unfortunate side effect of making them inaccessible whilst in platforms, due to the outward opening access hatches. On the open line, it was found that these hatches fouled adjacent tracks if opened on multi-track lines with standard track spacing, which meant other trains had to be stopped or diverted whilst fault finding and rectification took place.
As a result, the XPLorers were nicknamed “Xploders” due to their initially unreliable nature, a nickname which stuck long after the initial problems had been resolved.
NP43 pauses at Narrabri on a run to Moree. (7/1/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
EC2528 with #NP24 at Belford. (3/8/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
Routes
As of June 2020, the XPLorer Railcars work the following routes.
Armidale/ Moree, Northern Tablelands XPLorer: Daily in each direction. Service operates as one between Sydney and Werris Creek where the separate Armidale & Moree portions divide/ amalgamate. The Armidale service is usually operated by three carriages and the Moree service by two, however these can be built up to four (or even five, though rare) and three carriages respectively. Traverses Main North and Mungindi lines.
Canberra: Three-times daily in each direction. Usually operated by three-carriage sets however these can be built up to four. Traverses Main South, Bombala and Canberra lines.
Griffith: Operates twice weekly in either direction: To Griffith on Wednesdays and Saturdays and to Sydney on Thursdays and Sundays. Attached to the morning Sydney – Canberra service on Saturdays, the afternoon Sydney – Canberra service on Wednesdays and the afternoon Canberra – Sydney service on Thursdays and Sundays between Sydney and Goulburn, although can run through to Sydney separately in instances where the northbound connection is missed due to late running. Normally operated by a two-carriage set but can be built up to three if required. Traverses Main South, Hay and Yanco-Griffith lines.
Broken Hill, Outback XPLorer: Operates weekly in each direction, to Broken Hill on Mondays and to Sydney on Tuesdays. Usually operated by three carriages. An extra service, dubbed the Silver City Stiletto, operates to Broken Hill one Thursday each September for the Broken Heel Festival (usually returning empty). Special coupler protector plates were developed for this service to minimise damage should the train strike large wildlife at high speed – these have also seen use on other services. Traverses Main Western and Broken Hill Lines.
XPLorer Railcars have also operated the daily return Sydney – Dubbo Central West XPT service if an XPT set is unavailable.
As of June 2020, the XPLorer Railcars work the following routes.
Armidale/ Moree, Northern Tablelands XPLorer: Daily in each direction. Service operates as one between Sydney and Werris Creek where the separate Armidale & Moree portions divide/ amalgamate. The Armidale service is usually operated by three carriages and the Moree service by two, however these can be built up to four (or even five, though rare) and three carriages respectively. Traverses Main North and Mungindi lines.
Canberra: Three-times daily in each direction. Usually operated by three-carriage sets however these can be built up to four. Traverses Main South, Bombala and Canberra lines.
Griffith: Operates twice weekly in either direction: To Griffith on Wednesdays and Saturdays and to Sydney on Thursdays and Sundays. Attached to the morning Sydney – Canberra service on Saturdays, the afternoon Sydney – Canberra service on Wednesdays and the afternoon Canberra – Sydney service on Thursdays and Sundays between Sydney and Goulburn, although can run through to Sydney separately in instances where the northbound connection is missed due to late running. Normally operated by a two-carriage set but can be built up to three if required. Traverses Main South, Hay and Yanco-Griffith lines.
Broken Hill, Outback XPLorer: Operates weekly in each direction, to Broken Hill on Mondays and to Sydney on Tuesdays. Usually operated by three carriages. An extra service, dubbed the Silver City Stiletto, operates to Broken Hill one Thursday each September for the Broken Heel Festival (usually returning empty). Special coupler protector plates were developed for this service to minimise damage should the train strike large wildlife at high speed – these have also seen use on other services. Traverses Main Western and Broken Hill Lines.
XPLorer Railcars have also operated the daily return Sydney – Dubbo Central West XPT service if an XPT set is unavailable.
EA2505 with a diverted #SP33 at Villawood. (20/7/19)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
EA2505 with #SP33 at Towrang. (11/2/19)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
Unit Status
Road No. |
Livery |
Owner |
Begun Service |
Current State |
EA Cars
|
2501
2502 2503 2504 2505 2506 2507 2508 |
Ex-Countrylink
Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink |
NSW Trainlink
NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink |
Oct 1993
Oct 1993 Nov 1993 Nov 1993 Nov 1993 Dec 1993 1995 Sep 1995 |
Operational
Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational |
EB Cars
|
2511
2512 2513 2514 2515 2516 2517 |
Ex-Countrylink
Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink |
NSW Trainlink
NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink |
Oct 1993
Oct 1993 Nov 1993 Nov 1993 Nov 1993 1995 1995 |
Operational
Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational |
EC Cars
|
2521
2522 2523 2524 2525 2526 2527 2528 |
Ex-Countrylink
Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink Ex-Countrylink |
NSW Trainlink
NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink NSW Trainlink |
Oct 1993
Oct 1993 Nov 1993 Nov 1993 Nov 1993 Dec 1993 1995 Sep 1995 |
Operational
Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational |
EA2503 with #SP31 at Bargo. (18/7/19)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
EA2508 with a down pass at Mayfield. (23/7/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
Conversions from Endeavour Railcars
The mechanical identity of the Endeavour and XPLorer Railcars has allowed easy conversions between the two. There are two major examples of this.
Liveries
CountryLink MkI: 1993 – 2010 (SRA CountryLink)
The XPLorer’s original livery was CountryLink MkI – also applied to the XPTs from 1991 to 2010. This livery featured a dark blue window band with CountryLink light blue and white stripes along the length of each coach, accompanied by light blue and white stripes around the cab area. One side of each driving carriage featured a large CountryLink logo, whilst the other featured a smaller logo. The skirts were painted black.
CountryLink MkII (2007 – present)
The XPLorer’s second livery co-incided with a major refurbishment program for the XPTs and XPLorers, carried out at Bombardier Transportation’s workshop in Melbourne, once again alongside work on the Endeavour Railcars. The new livery featured a light blue window band, dark blue front with yellow windscreen outline and yellow doors, with the CountryLink logo featured on the cab end of each driving carriage and CountryLink name below the windscreen. The skirts remained black. The same livery was applied to the XPTs. Work commenced on the XPLorers in 2007 and was complete by 2010.
After the creation of NSW Trainlink, the CountryLink branding was removed, but as of June 2020, all twenty-three carriages retain the second CountryLink livery. Two carriages (EA2508 & EC2528) received NSW Trainlink logos on the front and sides in place of the CountryLink branding.
The mechanical identity of the Endeavour and XPLorer Railcars has allowed easy conversions between the two. There are two major examples of this.
- Following the electrification of the South Coast Line from Dapto to Kiama in 2001, CityRail released Endeavour carriages LE2865 & TE2815 (of set N15) for conversion to XPLorer carriages. The carriages re-entered service in May 2002 as EA2508 and EC2528 respectively. These cars can be distinguished from the original XPLorer cars by their plug crew doors – all original XPLorer cars used inward swing doors for access to the crew compartments, reserving plug doors for the passenger saloons.
- Endeavour carriage TE2805 was temporarily used as an XPLorer carriage in 2007, allowing other XPLorer carriages to be sent to Melbourne for refurbishment. The CityRail logos were removed, the skirts painted black and the interior re-fitted to the standard of an economy XPLorer carriage, but it was otherwise left as it was.
Liveries
CountryLink MkI: 1993 – 2010 (SRA CountryLink)
The XPLorer’s original livery was CountryLink MkI – also applied to the XPTs from 1991 to 2010. This livery featured a dark blue window band with CountryLink light blue and white stripes along the length of each coach, accompanied by light blue and white stripes around the cab area. One side of each driving carriage featured a large CountryLink logo, whilst the other featured a smaller logo. The skirts were painted black.
CountryLink MkII (2007 – present)
The XPLorer’s second livery co-incided with a major refurbishment program for the XPTs and XPLorers, carried out at Bombardier Transportation’s workshop in Melbourne, once again alongside work on the Endeavour Railcars. The new livery featured a light blue window band, dark blue front with yellow windscreen outline and yellow doors, with the CountryLink logo featured on the cab end of each driving carriage and CountryLink name below the windscreen. The skirts remained black. The same livery was applied to the XPTs. Work commenced on the XPLorers in 2007 and was complete by 2010.
After the creation of NSW Trainlink, the CountryLink branding was removed, but as of June 2020, all twenty-three carriages retain the second CountryLink livery. Two carriages (EA2508 & EC2528) received NSW Trainlink logos on the front and sides in place of the CountryLink branding.
EA2505 with #NP23 at Waratah. (19/3/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
EA2507 with #NP23 at Belford. (16/4/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
All information sourced from Wikipedia and The Rail Motor Society