New Generation Rollingstock
| Industry | Rail transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 2014 |
| Founder | Qtectic consortium (Aberdeen Asset Management, Bombardier Transportation, Itochu, John Laing Group) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Queensland, Australia |
| Products | Electric multiple unit trains |
The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) comprises a series of electric multiple unit trains produced by Bombardier Transportation in India for Queensland Rail between January 2014 and December 2019. This fleet stands as the most extensive collection of electric multiple units currently operating within Queensland.
History
In January 2014, the Queensland Government entered into a 32-year public-private partnership agreement with the Qtectic consortium—consisting of Aberdeen Asset Management, Bombardier Transportation, Itochu, and John Laing Group—to supply 75 six-car electric multiple units. These trains were constructed in Savli, India, marking a departure from Queensland Rail’s prior practice of manufacturing through Downer Rail at Maryborough, representing their first overseas-built fleet. The inaugural unit was delivered to the Port of Brisbane in February 2016.
Service commenced in December 2017 with the first NGR trains operating on the Airport and Gold Coast lines. By May 2018, operations extended to the Doomben line, followed by integration into the Redcliffe and Springfield lines in September. In October, the fleet began servicing Ipswich and Caboolture lines, with Shorncliffe and Cleveland lines added by February 2019. At this stage, the NGR had become Queensland’s largest electric multiple unit fleet. Service on the Sunshine Coast line reaching Nambour started in March 2020.
The final train was introduced into service in January 2020; however, operational limitations due to loading gauge and platform length prevent the fleet from running on the Beenleigh, Ferny Grove, and Rosewood lines.
Units numbered 709 and 772 have been fitted with European Train Control System (ETCS) technology to support trials of QR’s ETCS infrastructure.
Fleet
Maintenance of the NGR fleet is conducted at a specialized depot located west of Wulkuraka station. Each train set includes two driving motor cars (designated with prefixes 3 and 8) positioned at each end, two trailer cars (prefixes 4 and 7), and two intermediate motor cars (prefixes 5 and 6). The driving motor cars are equipped with aerodynamic nose cones that replace the exposed Scharfenberg couplers characteristic of earlier Queensland Rail models. The car bodies feature flat steel panels on their sides combined with corrugated steel roofing. The units are compatible with the European Train Control System and possess gangway connection doors, though these are infrequently utilized.
Passenger amenities encompass high-backed seating, secure bicycle storage equipped with safety straps, luggage compartments beneath seats, accessible restrooms including baby changing facilities, complimentary WiFi access, and CCTV surveillance. The permanently coupled six-car formations allow passengers to traverse the entire length of the train without interruption, eliminating the need for coupling additional sets. Unlike previous arrangements where two three-car units formed a six-car configuration, guards now operate exclusively from the rear car.
Nomenclature
The term "New Generation Rollingstock" signifies the arrival of advanced electric multiple units within Queensland Rail’s network. The introduction of the NGR fleet facilitated a gradual phase-out of older fleets: the InterCity Express by 2021 and the Electric Multiple Unit stock by 2025.
Accessibility
The trains encountered criticism concerning accessibility, particularly due to undersized toilet compartments and the absence of wheelchair access in one of the two designated accessible cars. Following the rejection of an exemption application by the Australian Human Rights Commission, Downer Rail's Maryborough workshop initiated corrective measures.
The issue stemmed from the location of boarding ramps next to train doors, which limited the available space for toilet modules. Starting with unit 735 in January 2019, modifications were carried out and completed by July 2024 with unit 771. Changes involved shifting toilet modules forward to meet disability compliance standards, installing a second accessible toilet module in each unit, and relocating boarding ramps behind these modules.
Further enhancements included clearer priority seating indicators, additional help points positioned between toilet compartments, signage updates developed in consultation with disability advocates, and installation of evacuation alert lights inside toilets. The trains now feature highly visible priority decals on windows and interior surfaces to improve accessibility awareness.