· The first WA made six-car C-series train has now completed high voltage testing
· The train will undergo a year of intensive dynamic testing before starting services in 2023
· 246 new C-Series railcars will be built locally over the next 10 years
· First locally manufactured railcars in Western Australia since 1994
The first full six-car C-series train built in Western Australia has completed high voltage testing and will move out of Bellevue in the next month for an extensive dynamic validation testing period.
For approximately 12 months, the new train will travel along the Mandurah and Joondalup lines, outside of passenger service operating hours, to test how it runs in a live environment.
This will include testing braking and acceleration, operational systems, passenger comfort and energy consumption, to ensure the train is ready for passenger services from late-2023.
This rigorous testing program ensures the future railcars can move more than 103,000 daily boardings on these lines as safely, reliably and smoothly as possible.
Testing of the first full six-car C-series train is a major milestone in the delivery of the State Government’s promise to build trains locally and create employment opportunities for Western Australians.
It will be the first time in nearly 30 years that a locally manufactured train will be operated on the network.
The ten-year contract to deliver 246 new C-Series railcars and six new Australind railcars, will see 130 workers directly employed at the Bellevue workshop, and hundreds of jobs created through the local manufacture of train components such as bogie frames, battery boxes and passenger seats.
The new C-series will initially operate along the Joondalup and Mandurah lines to maximise capacity along the two busiest lines.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“In a WA first since 1994, we are bringing back railcar manufacturing and delivering on our promise to build trains locally and create local job opportunities.
“Western Australians will soon see locally built trains on our rail lines as we undertake critically important testing to ensure the railcars are ready to enter service next year.
“Congratulations to all of the workers involved in reaching this milestone and helping to bring back railcar manufacturing to WA.”
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“We committed to bringing railcar production back to Western Australia and to see the first locally manufactured full six-car C-series train ready for testing on our rail network is a major milestone.
“With railcars previously built outside of WA, this level of testing has never occurred locally. It is an extremely important step in making sure the millions of passengers boarding the new trains each year will enjoy a safe, reliable and smooth journey.
“After this year of rigourous testing on the network in a live environment, the new train will begin passenger services, and will have the ability to move more people than the current trains.
“By 2029 we will see 246 new C-series railcars locally built at our Bellevue facility, which will service Perth’s growing METRONET train network.”
