New South Wales H set

For the historic electric rolling stock, partly given the same set designator, see New South Wales Bradfield suburban carriage stock, New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock, and New South Wales Tulloch suburban carriage stock.

The New South Wales H sets, commonly referred to as the OSCAR (Outer Suburban Car) trains, are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) currently operated by Sydney Trains on its intercity routes and some Sydney suburban routes. Built by UGL Rail in Broadmeadow, the H sets first entered service under the CityRail brand in December 2006, with the last in December 2012. Their introduction allowed for the retirement of some second-class V set carriages (second class DCM and DCT carriages).^[1] As long-distance trains, the H sets share a similar overall layout and design to the previous Intercity Tangara G sets. Currently operating as 55 four-carriage sets,^[2] the H sets now operate between Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle and between Sydney and the South Coast.

H set
H49 at Newcastle Interchange
Interior (upper deck)
Stock type	Electric multiple unit
In service	2006–present
Manufacturer	UGL Rail
Built at	Broadmeadow
Replaced	G sets, V sets (2nd batch, DCM & DCT cars.), K sets (suburban services)
Constructed	2006–2012
Entered service	15 December 2006 (2006-12-15)
Number built	221
Number in service	220
Successor	D sets (for Intercity services only)
Formation	55 4-car sets
Fleet numbers	OD 6901–6999, 6843–6854 (driving trailers) ON 5901–5949, 5821–5826 (motor cars) ONL 5951–5999, 5871–5876 (motor cars with lavatory) H1–H55 (full 4-car sets)
Capacity	432
Operators	Sydney Trains (2024–present) NSW TrainLink (2013–2024) CityRail (2006–2013)
Depots	Hornsby Mortdale
Lines served	Central Coast & Newcastle South Coast
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel with fibreglass end bonnets
Train length	81.55 m (267 ft 6+5⁄8 in)
Car length	20.34 m (66 ft 8+3⁄4 in) (OD) 20,435 mm (67 ft 1⁄2 in) (ON/ONL)
Width	3,034 mm (9 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Height	4,403 mm (14 ft 5+3⁄8 in)
Doors	Plug-style, 2 per side
Maximum speed	143 km/h (89 mph) (design – with yaw damper & re-gearing) 130 km/h (81 mph) (service)
Weight	201 t (198 long tons; 222 short tons)
Traction system	Mitsubishi 2-level IGBT–VVVF
Traction motors	8 × Mitsubishi 200 kW (270 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output	1,600 kW (2,146 hp)
Acceleration	1.03 m/s2 (3.4 ft/s2)
Deceleration	1.01 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2) (service) 1.10 m/s2 (3.6 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Austbreck Pantograph
UIC classification	2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Braking system(s)	Automatic air, electropneumatic and regenerative (Faiveley Transport)
Coupling system	Dellner
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Design

Vestibule, January 2006

Foldable seats, January 2006

There are many similarities between the H sets and the M sets, including improved external destination boards, internal destination boards displaying stopping patterns, Digital Voice Announcements, security cameras, and green target plates. The OSCARs also have additional features to increase comfort on the longer journeys they operate. These include high back seating covered with durable, vandal-proof woollen moquette fabric with padded head-rests, retractable footrests, luggage racks, aisle seat armrests and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. Wheelchair seating is available in the vestibules, while 3x2 seating is provided in the upper and lower deck sections. Carriage interiors were designed by Transport Design International.^[3]

The OSCAR shares a common bogie design with the Hunter Rail Car, however the OSCAR does not have yaw dampers installed, resulting in a maximum service speed of 130 km/h (as opposed to 145 km/h on the Hunter Rail Car).

The OSCARs also include several new safety features. The doors on older rolling stock such as V sets are all unlocked at every station (even short platforms). V Sets have doors that must be slid open for alighting or boarding and G Sets have push buttons. However, on the H set, the guard is able to select the number of doors to be opened at a station. This feature is aimed at preventing incidents where passengers may fall from the carriage when stopped at a short platform. The H sets have been fitted with Dellner automatic couplers, compatible with the M sets and the Hunter railcars. They are able to absorb the impact of a collision, and the anti-climbers on the H sets will also reduce the force of impact. The trains also have a different body design. Instead of the entire body being of the same design, like the Tangara, the driver's cab is built like a protective cage, made of fibreglass and supported by a box section steel frame, which stretches to the end of the guard's door. The rest of the train is made from conventional stainless steel.

The train's journey is announced automatically through onboard male/female digital voiceovers

Delivery

The initial order was for 41 cars and the contract was awarded in February 2003. The second order for 81 cars was awarded in April 2005 and the third in March 2009 for 72 cars, increased to 74 in March 2010 and 99 in January 2011.^[4] The OSCARs were late in starting service as CityRail wanted to test the trains thoroughly after the M sets had a troubled introduction. On 5 August 2006, set H3 was opened for inspection to the public, as part of Central station's centenary celebrations.

On 15 December 2006, the OSCARs entered revenue service between Sydney and Wollongong on Thursdays and Fridays. A few months later, OSCARs operated the services on all weekdays. Their progressive entry into service allowed the former G sets to be redeployed on services to Wyong and Springwood. From 30 April 2007, the H sets were introduced on other services, but the original OSCAR service reverted to G Set operation. Eight car operation started on 26 November 2007.

On 8 April 2008, H sets were introduced on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, operating in eight-car formations, principally between Sydney and Wyong, however they have been used for Newcastle services. H sets were the first rolling stock to be used on the Epping to Chatswood railway line, operating a shuttle service from 23 February 2009 to 10 October 2009. Four car sets operated on the line exclusively during the shuttle phase until it was integrated into the Northern line service.

An additional order for 72 cars was confirmed on 27 March 2009, forming 18 additional four-car sets. The 2010 State budget increased this order to 74 cars.^[5] The two additional cars will become spares. The first train from this order entered service on 18 October 2010.^[6] In response to passenger feedback, these carriages feature an additional 20 millimetres of padding on the seat backing and lengthened seat bases to increase comfort.^[7]

The final H set was delivered to CityRail in December 2012 along with spare driver trailer OD 6850.^[4][8][9]

In service

Formation

Each four car set is made up of three different types of carriages:

• OD = Outer suburban Driving car: 102 seats
• ON = Outer suburban Non-Control motor: 118 seats
• ONL = Outer suburban Non-Control motor with Lavatory: 110 seats

in this configuration: OD-ONL-ON-OD.

Sets are numbered as follows (where n is the set number):

• Sets H1-10: OD69(n*2-1), ONL59(n+50), ON59(n), OD69(n*2)
• Sets H11-48: OD69(n*2+1), ONL59(n+50), ON59(n), OD69(n*2+2)
• Set H49: OD6921, ONL5999, ON5949, OD6922
• Sets H50-55: OD69(n*2-57), ONL58(n+21), ON58(n-29), OD69(n*2-56)

H sets are operated by Sydney Trains on the following intercity lines:

• South Coast Line: Bondi Junction, Martin Place & Central to Port Kembla & Kiama
• Central Coast & Newcastle Line: Central & Blacktown to Gosford & Wyong

H sets are used on a limited number of suburban services on the following lines:

• T1 North Shore & Western Line from Hornsby to Blacktown (weekday peak only)
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line from Bondi Junction to Hurstville or Waterfall (weekday peak only)

Future

With the D sets having commenced services in December 2024,^[10] these new trains will allow the H sets to be transferred to suburban services.^[11]

New LCD displays, August 2024

In preparation for their eventual transfer to suburban services, H sets have been undergoing a refurbishment programme at the Hornsby Maintenance Centre since 2023. Internal upgrades such as the addition of ATP, newly upgraded LCD interior passenger information displays and updated digital voice announcements similar to the ones found on B sets have been implemented across the fleet. In addition, a new orange livery with a cab design similar to the B sets and repainted orange doors is also being rolled out to visually bring the fleet in line with the rest of Sydney's suburban rolling stock.^[12]

New livery, July 2025