ADK/ADB class railcar
ADK 682 on a Papatoetoe to Westfield service, during its farewell trip
In serviceAustralia: 1967–1993,
New Zealand: 1993–2014,
Mozambique: 2017–present
ManufacturerADK: Commonwealth Engineering
ADB: Western Australian Government Railways
Built atADK: Granville
ADB: Midland Railway Workshops
ReplacedAustralia: WAGR Dd class & carriages
New Zealand: 56-foot carriages
Constructed1967–1968
Entered serviceAustralia: 1968
New Zealand: 1993
Refurbished2007
Number built10 sets
Number in service8 sets (running in pairs)
FormationAustralia: ADK+ADB
New Zealand: ADK+ADB+ADB+ADK
(originally ADK+ADB)
Fleet numbersADK 681–ADK 690
ADB 771–ADB 780
CapacityADK: 74, ADB: 64
OperatorsAustralia:
Western Australian Government Railways, Westrail
New Zealand:
Tranz Metro, Transdev Auckland
Maputo, Mozambique:
MetroBus
DepotsAustralia: Claisebrook
New Zealand: Westfield
Lines servedAustralia:
Armadale
Fremantle
Midland
New Zealand:
Eastern Line
Southern Line
Western Line
Specifications
Car body constructionADK: 20.20 m (66 ft 3 in)
ADB: 15.85 m (52 ft 0 in)
Train length37.75 m (123 ft 10 in) per two-car unit
Car lengthADK: 21.09 m (69 ft 2 in) over couplers
ADB: 16.66 m (54 ft 8 in) over couplers
Width2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Height3.92 m (12 ft 10 in)
Floor height1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Entry1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
DoorsAir-operated sliding doors, 2 pairs each side (ADK), one pair each side (ADB), 0.915 m wide
Maximum speed90 km/h (56 mph)
WeightADK: 33.3 t (32.8 long tons; 36.7 short tons)
ADB: 15.8 t (15.6 long tons; 17.4 short tons)
Prime mover(s)2 x Cummins
Power outputADK: 2 x 155 kW (208 hp), one engine per bogie
TransmissionDiesel-hydraulic
AuxiliariesADB: diesel alternator in former cab (one per four-car set)
HVACHeating only
UIC classification(1A)(A1)+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)

The ADK class are a class of diesel multiple units that were previously operated by Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) in Perth, and later Transdev Auckland on Auckland's suburban rail network, and are currently operated by MetroBus in Maputo, Mozambique. Originally built by Commonwealth Engineering and the Midland Railway Workshops for WAGR in the late 1960s, all but one were sold in 1993 to New Zealand Rail, and were then owned by Auckland Transport. The units were completely withdrawn from service in New Zealand on 5 December 2014, following completion of electrification of Auckland's network.

History

In 1967 and 1968, ten two-carriage stainless steel sets were manufactured for the Western Australian Government Railways. Each set consisted of an ADK power car manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering, and an ADB trailer built by the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops. The ADK cars were manufactured in Granville and railed via Melbourne and Adelaide requiring a change of bogies at each of these locations and again at Kalgoorlie.[1][2]

Following the electrification of the Perth rail network, they were rendered surplus and in 1992, all except ADK 689 were sold, along with the newer ADL/ADC class, to New Zealand Rail to replace 56-foot carriages on suburban trains in Auckland.[1][2][3][4]

In October 1993, prior to being privatised, New Zealand Rail sold the class to the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).[5] In 2004, the ARC funded an upgrade, which included refurbishment of the interiors, painting in the new MAXX blue colour scheme and mechanical improvements to extend their life by 10 years. After the upgrade, they ran as four-car rather than two-car sets. All were refurbished except ADB 773 (in use at Lock 'n' Load paintball arena) and ADK 689 (which was not exported to New Zealand). Westrail planned on converting ADK 689 to a self-propelled track inspection carriage but this did not eventuate.

Unlike the ADL/ADC class and SA sets, the units were not fitted with Electronic Train Protection (ETP) equipment, owing to their imminent replacement by the AM class. All are scheduled for withdrawal by late 2014.[6]

As of 15 September 2014, all services on the Manukau Line are operated by the AM class. As a result of this, all ADK units were placed into storage. Services to Papakura formerly run by ADKs are now run by ADLs, also displaced from the Manukau Line. A farewell trip was run by the Railway Enthusiasts Society on 16 November 2014, running on every suburban line in Auckland.[7] The units were completely withdrawn on 20 July 2015.

Mozambique

In August 2017, eight units were shipped to Mozambique,[8] with one unit being purchased by the New Zealand Special Air Services for training. The shipped units are now running in Maputo, Mozambique, operated by MetroBus on a commuter service from Maputo Central Railway Station to the suburb of Matola .[9][10]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 May, Andrew S; Gray, Bill (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Midland, WA: Bill Gray. pp. 298–303. ISBN 0646459023.
  2. 1 2 Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3: 1966–1977. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 11–15. ISBN 9781877058905.
  3. ↑ Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 64.
  4. ↑ Kemp, Michael (1992). "Locomotive notes". New Zealand Railway Observer. New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society (212): 168. ISSN 0028-8624.
  5. ↑ ADK/ADL New Zealand Diesel & Electric Traction
  6. ↑ "Railfan". Vol. 20, no. 3. Triple M Publications. June 2014. ISSN 1173-2229.
  7. ↑ "The Last Diesel Subbie Train In Auckland Farewell to the SA's". 20 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Auckland Council (25 August 2017). "Auckland's old diesel trains set for new life in Mozambique". scoop.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  9. ↑ Adrian Fray (21 February 2018). "Metrobus Train Traffic interrupted by floods, landslides on rail tracks". clubofmozambique.com. Adrian Fray. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. ↑ Adrian Fray (5 October 2017). "Million dollar 'Metro-Bus' integrated transport project for Maputo, Matola & Boane to start operations soon". clubofmozambique.com. Adrian Fray. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.

Bibliography

  • Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.
  • Parsons, David. New Zealand Railway Motive Power 2002.
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