Written By: Alex Thorn and Chris Nuthall
Photos By: Alex Thorn, Ian Green, Thomas McIntosh, Thomas Bulic and Chris Nuthall
Page Last Updated: 13/7/20
The X’Trapolis 100 fleet is made up of 9 orders beginning in 2000, through to 2018. After Connex won the Hillside franchise in 1999, an order for 29 new 6-car X’Trapolis trains (58 units) was placed with partner Alstom. The first ten units were fully manufactured at the La Rochelle factory in France. From unit 11 onwards however, only the body shells were built in France, with the rest of the train being assembled in Victoria at Alstom's Ballarat facility. The order of these new trains were part of Government's plan to withdraw the 30 year old Hitachi fleet from service. National Express (later M>Train), who won the Bayside franchise, ordered new Siemens Nexas trains to replace their Hitachi fleet.
The X’Trapolis 100 trains consist of a standard M-T-M configuration, however differ from other types of Melbourne EMU’s, as there is a single pantograph per 3-car unit, placed on the ‘T’ carriage. Another unique feature is the destination indicators on the side of the carriages, similar to regional V/locity and Sprinter units. There are also sliding doors which separate carriages at gangway entrances. The standard 3 doors per carriage side has been included in the design, unlike the Siemens sets. This design would form the basis of the Valparaíso trains in Chile, however these trains are 2 car sets.
The X’Trapolis 100 trains consist of a standard M-T-M configuration, however differ from other types of Melbourne EMU’s, as there is a single pantograph per 3-car unit, placed on the ‘T’ carriage. Another unique feature is the destination indicators on the side of the carriages, similar to regional V/locity and Sprinter units. There are also sliding doors which separate carriages at gangway entrances. The standard 3 doors per carriage side has been included in the design, unlike the Siemens sets. This design would form the basis of the Valparaíso trains in Chile, however these trains are 2 car sets.
An unidentified plain Xtrapolis at Kensington. (23/6/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
155M-1378T-156M on transfer from Ballarat at Newport. (2/10/12)
Photo By: Ian Green |
X’Trapolis trains first entered service in December 2002, and the last of the first order was in service by the end of 2004. They operated exclusively on the former Hillside network under Connex. Sets were delivered in an un-liveried form, with Connex livery applied locally. Despite the entire network coming under Connex control in 2004, they continued to operate solely on the Burnley and Clifton Hill group lines. In October 2007 a tender for 18 6-car trains, to be delivered by 2010 was made, with another tender in 2009 for an additional order of 20 more 6-car trains added. More orders were made in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018, bringing the total number of X’Trapolis sets to 106 6-car trains or 212 3-car units.
21M at Ashburton on a Camberwell service. (25/5/20)
Photo By: Thomas McIntosh |
262M using the crossover at Bell. (13/6/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
The fleet has undergone various modifications and refurbishments over the years, such as in 2009, when Metro modified the 3+2 seating layout in all original X'Trapolis 100s to have 2+2 seating. This allowed for more standing room for passenger, hence allowing for a greater capacity. The later orders of X’Trapolis sets came with this modification as delivered. Stickers with Metro signage was placed over the Connex signage after takeover, before all sets adorned a full Metro livery. Refurbishments and repairs are typically done at Alstom in Ballarat, meaning the sets are loco-hauled to the site.
As the number of sets grew, X’Trapolis trains also operated on a broader variety of services. All the former Hillside lines, which include the Lilydale, Belgrave, Hurstbridge, Alamein, Glen Waverley and Mernda lines are now exclusively operated by X’Trapolis trains. In 2014, they were cleared to operate Frankston services during peak periods. This was the first time that they were allowed to operate services on the former Bayside system. In 2016, they were permitted to operate any Frankston services and also began operating services on the Werribee and Williamstown lines. In 2018, they were permitted to operate Flemington Racecourse services, but are still not used in service on any other former Bayside lines as of July 2020. Almost all services are operated as 6 car trains, however off peak Alamein shuttles from Camberwell are operated by a 3 car unit.
As the number of sets grew, X’Trapolis trains also operated on a broader variety of services. All the former Hillside lines, which include the Lilydale, Belgrave, Hurstbridge, Alamein, Glen Waverley and Mernda lines are now exclusively operated by X’Trapolis trains. In 2014, they were cleared to operate Frankston services during peak periods. This was the first time that they were allowed to operate services on the former Bayside system. In 2016, they were permitted to operate any Frankston services and also began operating services on the Werribee and Williamstown lines. In 2018, they were permitted to operate Flemington Racecourse services, but are still not used in service on any other former Bayside lines as of July 2020. Almost all services are operated as 6 car trains, however off peak Alamein shuttles from Camberwell are operated by a 3 car unit.
120M-1360T-119M on a Lilydale service at Mooroolbark. (15/5/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
61M leads a Hustbridge service over the Eltham Trestle. (18/1/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
Inside an Xtrapolis
Modified seating to accompany more disabled people. (25/5/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
Looking down an empty carriage at Flinders Street. (25/5/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
Photos of Xtrapolis Trains
Three Xtrapolis trains next to eachother in Newport. (8/4/10)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall 
18M at Heatherdale with a Flinders Street service. (3/10/10)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
1M on it's first day of Operation at Newport. (19/2/10)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall 
182M at Epping Sidings. (15/12/14)
Photo By: Chris Nuthall |
All information sourced from Wikipedia.