InterCity Express (Queensland Rail)

The InterCity Express was a class of electric multiple units manufactured by Walkers, Maryborough for Queensland Rail in 1988/89. They were built to operate the Spirit of Capricorn service on the North Coast line service between Brisbane and Rockhampton. Since being superseded on this service, they were used on Sunshine Coast line services from Brisbane to Gympie North until mid-2021. As of November 2021, all units have been retired from service.

InterCity Express
ICE 156 at Cooroy station
Interior of an ICE
In service1988–2021
ManufacturerWalkers
Built atMaryborough
Constructed1987–1989
Entered service1988
Number built20 carriages
SuccessorNew Generation Rollingstock
Formation4-6 carriage sets
Fleet numbers151-158
Capacity222 per 5-carriage set
+4 wheelchair spaces
Operator(s)Queensland Rail
Depot(s)Mayne
Line(s) servedSunshine Coast (Roma Street to Gympie North)
Specifications
Train length95.6 m (313 ft 8 in)
Car length
  • 23.4 m (76 ft 9 in) (EMD)
  • 23.1 m (75 ft 9 in) (EMM/EMT)
Width2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
Height3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
DoorsManual open, auto-swing close
Wheel diameter840 mm (33 in)
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Weight194 t (191 long tons; 214 short tons) 3-carriage set
Traction systemABB thyristor–phase-fired controller
Traction motors16 × 135 kW (181 hp) separately excited DC motor
Power output2.16 MW (2,900 hp)
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′(+2′2′(+2′2′))+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
Multiple working
  • Within type
  • With EMU
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

History

To operate the Spirit of Capricorn between Brisbane and Rockhampton on the North Coast line that was in the process of being electrified, in 1987 Queensland Rail ordered 16 electric multiple unit carriages from Walkers.[1] They were to be eight semi-permanently coupled pairs of a driving motor car (EMD) and a non-driving motor car (EMM) that were planned to operate as four-carriage sets.[2] Electrical equipment was provided by ASEA (later ABB). In 1988 an additional four trailer cars (EMT) were ordered to allow the sets to be built up to five or six carriages.[3][4][5]

The first trials were conducted in May 1988, before the first entered service on Sunshine Coast line services from Brisbane to Nambour, operating in multiple with Electric Multiple Units.[6][7][8] On 5 February 1989, they began to operate through to Gympie North.[9][10] On 3 July 1989, they began to operate Spirit of Capricorn services to Rockhampton.[11][12]

In 1998, the faster Electric Tilt Train replaced most Spirit of Capricorn services, with a Saturdays only service continuing. They briefly operated on the Gold Coast line following its extension to Nerang in May 1998 and Robina in November 1998.[13][14] They were used on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line from January 2000 after the withdrawal of the Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor.[15][16]

In 2001, all were fitted with power operated equipment to close the doors.[17] With the withdrawal of the remaining Spirit of Capricorn service from May 2003, they ceased operating north of Gympie North.[18][19]

All were to be eventually replaced by the New Generation Rollingstock with the first withdrawn in January 2019.[20][21] By February 2020, only units 153 and 157 were at North Ipswich Railway Workshops in storage. As of November 2021, all ICE units have been retired from operations.[22][23] The future of these units is currently unknown.

Fleet details
Type Classification Number
built		 Fleet
numbers
Driving motor car EMD 8 5151-5158
Non-driving motor car EMM 8 6151-6158
Trailer EMT 4 7151-7154

Each half-set numbered 151–158, comprised a semi-permanently coupled driving motor car (EMD) and a non-driving motor car (EMM) that could be built up to five or six carriages with the addition of trailer cars (EMT).[24] In their later years they generally operated as five car sets. In November 1990 an eight car set was operated.[25]

Named carriages

Driving motor cars 5155 and 5156 were named City of Brisbane and City of Rockhampton to mark the commencement of the Spirit of Capricorn service in July 1989.[26]

References
  1. Electrification Continental Railway Journal issue 70 June 1987 page 312
  2. QR's Inter-City Electrics Transit Australia December 1988 pages 251-255
  3. EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 264 March 1988 page 348
  4. Further Interurban Trains Transit Australia March 1988 page 53
  5. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 607 May 1988 page 36
  6. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 610 August 1988 page 69
  7. ICE EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 272 November 1988 page 217
  8. North Coast Speed-up Transit Australia November 1988 page 243
  9. ICEs to Gympie Transit Australia February 1989 page 41
  10. Nambour - Gympie Electrification Commissioning Sunshine Express issue 277 April 1989 page 396
  11. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 622 August 1989 page 194
  12. Spirit of Capricorn Inauguration Sunshine Express issue 282 September 1989 pages 130-132
  13. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 730 August 1998 page 319
  14. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 736 February 1999 page 77
  15. QR ICE Set Controversy Railway Digest March 2000 page 14
  16. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 751 May 2000 page 199
  17. In Brief Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 761 March 2001 page 107
  18. Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 786 April 2003 page 157
  19. News in brief Railway Digest July 2003 page 11
  20. First Queensland New Generation Rollingstock EMU arrives in Brisbane, maintenance centre officially opened Railway Digest April 2016 page 31
  21. QR EMU withdrawals under way and ICE sets' demise commences Railway Digest March 2019 page 18
  22. "Citytrain fleet". 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  23. "Citytrain fleet". www.queenslandrail.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  24. Churchman, Geoffrey (1995). Railway Electrification in Australia & New Zealand. Wellington: IPL Books. p. 149. ISBN 9780646068930.
  25. ICE Sets Sunshine Express issue 288 March 1990 page 331
  26. ICE Cars named Transit Australia September 1989 page 203

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