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XPT
XP2004 in the current CountryLink livery at Sydney Terminal
Manufacturer	Commonwealth Engineering
Constructed	1980
Enteredservice	April 8, 1982
Numberbuilt	19 power cars 60 passenger cars
Operator	CountryLink
Specifications
Maximumspeed	160 km/h service, 193 km/h record
Engine(s)	Paxman VP185 12-cylinder diesel electric
Poweroutput	1492 kW / 2000 horsepower (per power car)

The XPT, (short for 'eXpress Passenger Train'),is the main passenger train used in regional New SouthWales, Australia. Itoperates on key eastern seaboard routes including the Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane services. The XPT has been in servicefrom 1982, and is based on the striking InterCity 125 (or Class 43) design used by British Rail.

1History
3Fleet
6Further reading

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The NSW TrainLink North Coast Railway Line runs between Central and Roma Street (Brisbane) railway stations. Coach Services operate to Byron Bay, Hawks Nest, Newcastle and Port Macquarie. See also: North Coast Main line. Jan 01, 2010 The afternoon Sydney to Casino XPT arriving in Coffs Harbour New South Wales.

History

Development

In the 1970s, public concern about the ageing state of passenger rollingstockin New South Wales led to the situation becoming a politicalissue in the 1976 StateElection. In 1977, the PublicTransport Commission issued several tenders for theconstruction of replacement rail vehicles of varying types. Commonwealth Engineering(Comeng) submitted a tender for a single type of train based on theBritish InterCity125 train, which had entered service from 1976. In 1979, thisComeng bid was successful and although the bid was for 100vehicles, only 30 were constructed by the time the contracts weresigned in 1980. The initial order was for four sets of fivepassenger cars hauled by two power cars each, and two spare powercars.^[1]

The HST design had to be significantly modified, with the powercars becoming shorter, the engine being down rated, and air filtersand the cooling system modified to cater for hot and dustyAustralian conditions. The passenger trailers cars were based on aBudd design, rather than the British Rail Mark 3 trailers of theHST (InterCity 125), which were considered unsuitable. The interiorof the passenger cars was based on the HST however, with fixedseating of 1+2 configuration in first class and 2+2 configurationin second class.

Inservice

The first two power cars commenced testing with a luggage van inAugust 1981. With an operating speed of over 160 km/h, on ademonstration run to Albury on September 6, 1981 the XPT set a newAustralian speed record of 183 km/h between Table Top andGerogery, about 40 km from Wagga Wagga, breaking that ofWestern Australia's 1971 Prospector railcar. On a test run toAlbury on September 10, 1992 the XPT reached 193 km/h betweenTable Top and Yerong Creek. However this record was broken byQueensland's QR TiltTrain in 1999.

Interior of sleeper. The seats and the overhead compartmentsconvert to beds. Tray tables fit into the armrests

The first full test XPT set ran in January 1982, and the firstrevenue passenger service began on 8 April 1982 to Dubbo, replacing the locomotivehauled Central West Express. The next service was theMid- North Coast XPT to Kempsey from May 1982. TheRiverina XPT to Albury was introduced in August1982, with services introduced to Canberra inAugust 1983 and Tenterfield or Armidale in 1984 (theNorthern Tablelands XPT). The initial XPT livery was thered, orange and black livery of the then State RailAuthority of New South Wales.

Initially the XPT carried a fare surcharge compared to parallellocomotive hauled services, however this was abolished in 1985. TheXPT was a success, with high patronage forcing the order anddelivery of an additional 12 trailer cars to allow six sets of 7passenger cars. This allowed the extension of the Mid-NorthCoast XPT from Kempsey to Grafton, becoming the HolidayCoast XPT from 1985.

In 1988, the Booz- Allen Hamilton report issued by the newlyelected Greiner StateGovernment recommended the cessation of all country passengerservices, citing their economic non-viability.^[2] Thiswas considered politically unfeasible, so the report's alternativeoption of moving New South Wales to an all-XPT country passengerservice was adopted, resulting in the progressive withdrawal oflocomotive hauled services. In 1989, CountryLink was established as a businessunit of State Rail, and from 1990, XPT services were extended toBrisbane and Murwillumbah, the Northern Tablelands XPT wascut back to Tamworth, and the Canberra XPT waswithdrawn,^[3]replaced by locomotive hauled trains (prior to the introduction ofthe Xplorer railcars).

Between 1990 and 1992, with the inception of the CountryLinkbrand, the trains were repainted in a new blue, turquoise and whitelivery. In 1992, tenders were called for the provision ofadditional rollingstock and the refurbishment of existing cars forthe introduction of XPT services to Melbourne. ABB in Dandenong, Victoriaconstructed four additional power cars, five new seating cars andeight new sleeper cars. The sleeper cars were introduced onservices to Murwillumbah and Brisbane in 1993, the Tamworth XPT wasreplaced by an Xplorer set, and the daily Grafton XPT wasintroduced. Services to Melbourne began at the end of 1993,initially a single overnight service (replacing theSydney/Melbourne Express) but later an additional dailyservice was introduced, by extending the 'Riverina XPT' servicefrom Albury, on the New South Wales/Victorian border through toMelbourne, a distance of approx 320 kilometres, replacing theIntercapital Daylight Express (which had actually beenwithdrawn earlier in 1991). In 2004, with the cessation of serviceson the Murwillumbahbranch line, the Murwillumbah XPT was cut back to Casino.

Services

Back engine of CountryLink XPT train at Roma Street railway stationin Brisbane, Queensland

CountryLink XPT train
at Roma Street railwaystation in Brisbane,Queensland

The XPT fleet are currently used on five routes from Sydney:

Melbourne (2 daily each way, 2 overnight)
Brisbane (Once daily each way, service to Brisbane isovernight)
Dubbo (Once daily each way)
Grafton (Once daily each way)
Casino (Once daily each way, service from Casino to Sydney isovernight)

Fleet

Interior of a sitting car

CountryLink's fleet currently includes

19 XPT power cars
8 Sleeping cars
9 First class saloon cars
9 First class saloon/buffet cars
25 Economy class saloon cars
9 Economy class saloon/luggage cars

CountryLink's XPT is currently undergoing a major refurbishment.This work is carried out at United GroupRail's facilities at Chullora, NSW. They emerge with new interior decor,including new seat covers, curtains, carpets, and improvedinter-carriage gangway, buffets, washrooms, disabled facilities,plus upgraded driver's cab layout and a new CountryLink corporatelivery.

Carriages

An XPT shower/toilet. The basin and bowl are modular and integrateinto the wall

Carriage coding, features and numbers are as follows:

Countrylink Casino To Coffs Harbour