New Generation Rollingstock

The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) is a class of electric multiple unit manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in India for Queensland Rail between January 2014 and December 2019. They are the largest fleet of electric multiple units to be used in Queensland.

New Generation Rollingstock
NGR 766 at Karrabin station in July 2019
Interior of an NGR
Stock type	Electric multiple unit
In service	2017–present
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Built at	Savli, Gujarat, India
Replaced	Electric Multiple Unit InterCity Express
Constructed	2015–2019
Entered service	December 2017 (2017-12)
Refurbished	2019–2024 (accessibility)
Number built	75
Number in service	75
Formation	6-car sets
Fleet numbers	701–775
Capacity	964. Including 510 standing and 454 seating.
Operators	Queensland Rail
Depots	Wulkuraka
Lines served	All except Ferny Grove, Beenleigh and Rosewood
Specifications
Train length	146.17 m (479 ft 7 in)[1]
Car length	25,085 mm (82 ft 3.6 in) (end cars) 24,000 mm (78 ft 9 in) (intermediate cars) [1]
Width	2,746 mm (9 ft 0.1 in) (including doors)
Maximum speed	140 km/h (87 mph)
Traction system	IGBT–VVVF (Bombardier MITRAC)
Traction motors	3-phase AC induction motor
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Bogies	Bombardier FLEXX
Safety system(s)	Automatic Warning System European Train Control System
Coupling system	Dellner[2]
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

History

NGR 702 under test at Bowen Hills in March 2017

NGR 702 arriving at Wulkuraka in January 2017

NGR 719 after the disability upgrade has been completed

In January 2014, the Queensland Government awarded a contract for 75 six-carriage electric multiple units to the Qtectic consortium of Aberdeen Asset Management, Bombardier Transportation, Itochu and John Laing under a 32-year public private partnership.^[3][4][5][6] The units were built in Savli, India.^[7][8] The units were Queensland Rail's first to be manufactured overseas instead of in Maryborough by Downer Rail (formerly Walkers).^[9] In February 2016, the first unit was delivered to the Port of Brisbane.^[10][11][12]

In December 2017, the first NGR entered service.^{[7][13][14][15]}

The fleet began operating on the Airport and Gold Coast lines. In May 2018, they began operating on the Doomben line. In September 2018, they began operating on the Redcliffe and Springfield lines.^[16] In October 2018, they began operating on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines. In February 2019, they began operating on the Shorncliffe and Cleveland lines. The same month, they became the largest fleet of electric multiple units in Queensland.^[17][18][19] In March 2020, they began operating on the Sunshine Coast line as far as Nambour.^[20][21]

In January 2020, the last NGR entered service.^[22][23]

The fleet are not yet permitted to operate on the Beenleigh, Ferny Grove and Rosewood lines, due to loading gauge clearance issues and platform lengths, respectively.^[20][24]

Units 709 and 772 have had ETCS equipment installed and are currently being used to trial QR's ETCS infrastructure.^{[citation needed]}

Fleet

The NGR fleet is maintained at a purpose built depot to the west of Wulkuraka station.^[25][26][27]

Each unit comprises two driving motor cars (prefixes 3 and 8) at each end, coupled to two trailer cars (prefixes 4 and 7) and two intermediate motor cars in the middle (prefixes 5 and 6).^{[citation needed]} The driving motor cars are fitted with nose cones for improved aerodynamic performance as opposed to the exposed Scharfenberg couplers used by previous Queensland Rail rolling stock.^[8] The body is made up of flat steel panels on the sides and corrugated steel panels on the roof. The units are compatible with the European Train Control System. The units are also noted to have gangway connection doors but are almost never used.

Each unit features high-backed seats, bike storage with safety straps, luggage space underneath the seats, accessible toilets with baby changing table, free WiFi and CCTV.^[28] As they are permanently coupled six-car units, passengers are able to walk the entire length of the train, consequently eliminating the need to couple with another unit. Guards travel at the rear as opposed to the middle on the existing fleet, where two three-car units couple to form a six-car unit.

Nomenclature

As the name suggests, "New Generation Rollingstock" was chosen to reflect the next generation of electric multiple units being built to serve the Queensland Rail network. The delivery of the NGR fleet ultimately allowed for the withdrawal of the InterCity Express and Electric Multiple Unit fleets in 2021 and 2025, respectively.

Accessibility

The trains received media attention over a series of issues such as the toilet module size falling short by 12 mm (0.47 in), and the inability for a wheelchair to access the toilet from one of the two accessible cars.

Work to rectify the non-compliant parts of the trains was performed by Downer Rail's Maryborough facility.^[29] After an exemption application to the Australian Human Rights Commission was rejected, the need for rectification was clear.^[30] It was determined that the position of the boarding ramps next to the train door was the reason for the toilet module not meeting DDA’s minimum size requirements. The first, 735, arrived at Maryborough for rectification work in January 2019 and the last, 771, in late April 2024.^{[citation needed]} The project was completed in July 2024.^[31][32]

The new toilet module (left) versus the original toilet module (right). Not only has it moved further forward but the handle and signs have been rearranged. The boarding ramp was also moved to be behind the module

The rectification work solves the disability access problem by providing a toilet module for both centre (wheelchair accessible) cars.^[33] This means that wheelchairs no longer have to travel around the toilets to access them from behind.^[33] No major changes were made to the general seating other than recovering some of the seats with priority labelling including some transverse seats with high backs and no arm rests.^[33]

More help points were added in the space between the two toilet modules.^[33]

The toilet modules were made disability compliant by moving the toilet front side and door at least 12 mm (0.47 in) closer to the external doors, while leaving the toilet bowl in the original location.^[33] Labelling and other minor changes were made in the toilet module as well, such as the installation of lights that warn in the event of an evacuation.^[33]

These trains can be easily identified by the large priority stickers on the windows all along the train. More stickers are present within the train as well.

Some changes were made to signage throughout the train on the advice of disability groups; purportedly as "better wording" but the differences would be minor to the average person - intended instead for the minority of people with literacy difficulties (see difference between green emergency door release wording above).

Gallery

• 
  NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage longitudinal seating with priority seats coloured red.
• 
  NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage allocated space and communication devices.
• 
  NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage toilet pan and flush control.
• 
  NGR (refurbished) MA Carriage toilet washbasin and sensor controls.