ADL/ADC class diesel multiple unit

The ADL class is a class of diesel multiple units that were last operated by Auckland One Rail on the suburban rail network in Auckland, New Zealand. Originally built in the early 1980s by A Goninan & Co for Westrail of Western Australia, they were sold in 1993 by Westrail's successor, Transperth, to New Zealand Rail. The units are currently owned by Auckland Transport, and were withdrawn from service in August 2022 and transported to Glenbrook Vintage Railway and Pukeoware depot for storage.

ADL/ADC class railcar
A refurbished ADL/ADC near Britomart in 2009
In serviceAustralia: 1982–1993,
New Zealand: 1993–2022
ManufacturerA Goninan & Co
Built atNewcastle
ReplacedNew Zealand: 56-foot carriages
Constructed1981–1985
Entered service1981 (Perth)
1993 (Auckland)
Refurbished2002
Number built10 sets
Number in service0 sets
FormationADL+ADC
Fleet numbersADL 801–ADL 810
ADC 851–ADC 860
Capacity132
Operator(s)Westrail, Tranz Metro, Transdev Auckland
Depot(s)Westfield, Pukekohe
Line(s) servedSouthern Line (Papakura – Pukekohe)
Specifications
Car body construction20.26 m (66 ft 6 in)
Train length42.20 m (138 ft 5 in)
Car length21.10 m (69 ft 3 in) over couplers
Width2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Height3.84 m (12 ft 7 in)
Floor height1.12 m (3 ft 8 in)
DoorsAir-operated sliding doors; two each side (four per car), 1.26 m (4 ft 2 in) wide
Maximum speed90 km/h (56 mph)
WeightADL: 42.97 tonnes (95,000 lb)
ADC: 35.75 tonnes (79,000 lb)
Prime mover(s)Cummins NT855 R4
Power outputADL: 2 x 205 kW (275 hp), one engine for each bogie
TransmissionVoith
AuxiliariesADC: diesel alternator
HVACHeating & air conditioning
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic
Coupling systemAustralia: Norwegian coupling
NZ: Kidney link & pin
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

History
Unrefurbished ADL 804 at Auckland Railway Station, prior to 2003

Between 1981 and 1985, ten two-carriage stainless steel sets were manufactured for the Metropolitan Transport Trust and Westrail by A Goninan & Co, Newcastle.[1]

Following the electrification of the Perth rail network they were rendered surplus and in 1993 all were sold, along with the older ADK/ADB class, to New Zealand Rail to replace locomotive-hauled 56-foot carriages on suburban trains in Auckland.[1][2][3]

The units arrived in Auckland from Perth in April 1993.[4] One unit went to Hutt Workshops in the winter of 1993 for staff familiarisation, while the other units were prepared for New Zealand service at Westfield locomotive depot.[4]

As a result of the units’ introduction, station platforms in Auckland needed to be raised.[2]

In October 1993, prior to New Zealand Rail being privatised, the company sold the class to the Auckland Regional Council.[2]

Refurbished ADL 853-803 near New Lynn, 2014

Upgrades and retirement

In 2002, the Auckland Regional Council funded an upgrade of the class, which included refurbishment of the interiors and painting in the new MAXX blue colour scheme. The first refurbished unit entered service in December 2002, the last in November 2003.[5]

In 2011, Auckland Transport indicated four two-car sets would be retained after the Auckland rail electrification project is completed.[6]

Due to the introduction of the AM class electric multiple unit on all of Auckland's suburban railway lines, the ADL/ADC units were retained only for use between Pukekohe and Papakura station as a shuttle service. The diesel units were also used to provide service during power outages when electric trains could not operate.[7]

This is due to that portion of the North Island Main Trunk not currently being electrified. In 2020, the government announced funding for electrification of this section,[8] which once completed will render the ADL/ADC DMUs surplus to requirements. The ADL class were retired in August 2022.[9]

Two out of service ADLs were transferred to Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) for storage in 2021 to make space for new EMUs. The DMUs were hauled to GVR by the railway's own DBR1254, because KiwiRail were unable to provide motive power for the transfers.[10] The ADLs are now stored at Glenbrook Vintage Railway and Pukeoware depot.

References

Citations
  1. May, Andrew S; Gray, Bill (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Midland, WA: Bill Gray. pp. 319–323. ISBN 0646459023.
  2. Matt Lowrie (31 August 2017). "Twenty million trips! Auckland rail has come a long way in a very short time". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 64.
  4. Parsons 2002, p. 36.
  5. "Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA): 1 December 2004 – 31 October 2010" (PDF). Auckland Transport. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  6. "Electric trains: technical details". Auckland Transport Blog. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  7. "Auckland power cuts may take several days to fix for some as thousands of properties remain without electricity". 1 News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  8. Jane Paterson (29 January 2020). "Govt's $12b infrastructure spend: Rail, roads and DHBs the big winners". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  9. "Electric trains to Pukekohe". Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  10. "DMUs move around New Zealand for preservation and secure storage". The Railway Magazine. 27 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.

Bibliography

Media related to ADL/ADC class at Wikimedia Commons

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