M-Train

M>Train was a train operator in Melbourne, Australia, and operated some of the city's suburban rail operations. Formed in July 1998 as Bayside Trains, a business unit of the Public Transport Corporation, it was privatised in August 1999 becoming a subsidiary of National Express.

This article is about the former Australian railway company. For other uses, see M Train (disambiguation).

M>Train (Bayside Trains)
FormerlyBayside Trains
IndustryRailway operator
PredecessorPublic Transport Corporation
Founded1 July 1998
Defunct18 April 2004
SuccessorConnex Melbourne
Headquarters
Melbourne
Area served
Melbourne
ParentNational Express
Websitewww.mtrain.com.au

In December 2002, National Express handed the franchise in, with the State Government taking over until negotiations were concluded for Connex Melbourne to take over in April 2004.

History

In October 1997, in preparation for privatisation, it was announced that the Public Transport Corporation's suburban rail operations were split into two business units, Bayside Trains and Hillside Trains. On 1 July 1998, the former took over operation of the Frankston, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Sandringham, Williamstown, Werribee, Sydenham (now Sunbury), Broadmeadows (now Craigieburn) and Upfield line services.[1][2][3][4]

Bayside Trains initially operated service on the Orbost line as far as Warragul under contract to V/Line until electric services ceased beyond Pakenham.[5] On 1 July 1998, operation of the Stony Point line was transferred from V/Line.[6]

National Express successfully bid to take over the Bayside Trains services from 29 August 1999 beating competition from Connex, GB Railways and a Singapore MRT led consortium.[7][8] National Express were also awarded the Swanston Trams franchise and V/Line concession.[9][10][11]

In October 2000, National Express rebranded Bayside Trains as M>Train.[12][13][14]

In December 2002, National Express handed in its Victorian rail and tram franchises having been unable to renegotiate financial terms with the State Government who took over operations.[15][16][17][18]

KPMG were appointed to operate the business on behalf of the State Government.[19][20] In May 2003, the State Government announced it would establish a single company to operate both networks, and was negotiating with Connex Melbourne (who operated the other half of the network) to operate this entity. In February 2004, an agreement was reached, and the networks were reunited on 18 April 2004.[21]

Operations
Siemens Nexas in a trial M>Train livery

M>Train operated the suburban rail services in the western, north-western, south-eastern, and southern suburbs running through North Melbourne and South Yarra stations. These were the Werribee, Williamstown, Sydenham (now Sunbury), Broadmeadows (now Craigieburn), Upfield, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston, Sandringham and Stony Point lines, in addition to maintaining the three underground City Loop stations.

When the Public Transport Corporation fleet was split, Bayside Trains were allocated 58 three-car Hitachi and 97 three-car Comeng sets.[5] A class locomotives and MTH carriages were hired from V/Line for services on the unelectrified Stony Point line.

To replace the Hitachis, 62 three-car Siemens Nexas were ordered.[22][23]

Until November 2003, M>Train also issued its own annual railway tickets, running in parallel and sold at a discount to those Metcard system, but only permitting travel on their half of the network.[24]

References
  1. "Melbourne's Rail Network to be Split" Railway Digest November 1997 page 12
  2. "City in Brief" Railway Gazette International December 1997 page 835
  3. "Report of the Auditor-General - Victorian Government's finances 1998-99" (PDF). Auditor-General of Victoria. 1999. p. 114. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. "Victoria's public transport - Assessing the results of privatisation" (PDF). Institute of Public Affairs. April 2007. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. "Melbourne EMU Fleet" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 737 March 1999 page 116
  6. "Victorian Rail Transport Business Formerly Established" Railway Digest September 1998 page 15
  7. "All change for private trains and trams" Railway Digest August 1999 page 23
  8. "NEG conquers Oz" Rail issue 363 11 August 1999 page 11
  9. National Express Group Awarded Three Franchises Archived 11 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine National Express June 1999
  10. National Express takes root in Melbourne Archived 25 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 1 October 2000
  11. "ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 - now". ARHS Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  12. "National Express - Review of Operations - Australia". investis.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  13. "Moving Melbourne - A New Brand Coming for Melbourne's Tramsport" Transit Australia January 2001 page 18
  14. "Metros" Railway Gazette International July 2001 page 441
  15. National Express walks out of Australian rail service Archived 12 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph (London) 17 December 2002
  16. "Privatisation takes a tumble in Victoria" Railway Gazette International February 2003 page 61
  17. Nat Express pull back Down Under Archived 12 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph (London) 3 September 2004
  18. Richard Web (14 March 2004). "The long goodbye". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  19. Receivers take over train, tram group Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Age 24 December 2002
  20. Victorian passenger services get new managers Archived 25 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Rail Express 28 January 2003
  21. Selma Milovanovic, Rachel Wells (17 April 2004). "Down Frankston way it's a popular line". The Age. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  22. "Victorian rolling stock contracts announced" Railway Digest May 2000 page 20
  23. "M>Train Electric Sets Unveiled" Railway Digest March 2001 page 10
  24. "Related AFC tickets - M>Train Yearly Ticket". robx1.net. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  • Media related to M-Train at Wikimedia Commons
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