Adelaide Metro 4000 class
| Industry | Rail transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Products | Electric multiple unit trains |
| Parent | Adelaide Metro |
The Adelaide Metro 4000 class, commonly known as A-City trains, are electric multiple units constructed by Bombardier Transportation and subsequently Alstom at their Dandenong facility in Victoria. These trains operate exclusively on Adelaide's electrified rail system and represent the sole electric rolling stock in South Australia, servicing the Gawler, Seaford, and Flinders routes.
History
The 2008/09 State Budget outlined plans to electrify five out of six Adelaide rail lines, beginning with the Noarlunga and Gawler corridors. The initial strategy involved modifying 58 units from the 3000/3100 class fleet for electric operation while maintaining 12 diesel units dedicated to the Belair line. However, the scope of electrification was later reduced. In 2011, Bombardier Transportation was awarded a contract to manufacture 22 three-car train sets specifically for Adelaide’s rail network.
Deliveries commenced in July 2013, with the first trains entering passenger service on 23 February 2014 along the Seaford and Tonsley (currently Flinders) lines. The final unit was commissioned in October 2015. These trains incorporate design features similar to Bombardier’s V/Line VLocity and Transperth B-series models.
Originally, plans included electrifying the Gawler line to facilitate access to Adelaide Metro's Dry Creek depot for extensive maintenance tasks. This initiative was postponed, resulting in heavy maintenance being conducted at Dry Creek by transporting trains from Adelaide station using diesel locomotives until the Gawler line’s electrification was finalized in 2022.
In June 2019, an order for an additional 12 train sets was placed to support the Gawler line electrification project. The first of these units, manufactured by Alstom, arrived in late 2021 and commenced operations on 4 March 2022.