Transperth B-series train

B-series trains
Company type	Electric multiple units
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
Products	Electric multiple unit trains
Parent	Downer Rail (manufacturer)

Overview

The B-series trains are electric multiple units constructed by Downer Rail at their Maryborough, Queensland facility for Transperth between 2004 and 2019. A total of 234 carriages, arranged into 78 three-car sets, were produced, with 231 carriages (77 sets) currently active in service.

Built from stainless steel, these trains succeeded earlier rolling stock and operate on numerous lines such as the Airport, Armadale, Ellenbrook, Fremantle, Mandurah, Midland, Thornlie–Cockburn, and Yanchep routes. Each train set accommodates 240 seated passengers and offers standing room for up to 320 individuals as originally configured.

Measuring 72.42 meters in total length, the B-series consists of end cars that are 24.21 meters long and intermediate cars at 24 meters. Traction is provided by Bombardier MITRAC IGBT–VVVF systems powering eight three-phase AC induction motors rated at 180 kW each, delivering a combined output of 1.44 MW and enabling speeds up to 130 km/h.

Safety is managed through the Hitachi Rail STS L10000 ATP system. Braking functionality integrates microprocessor-controlled pneumatic brakes with regenerative dynamic braking. The trains feature plug-style doors—two on each side per carriage—and draw power from a 25 kV 50 Hz overhead catenary via pantograph.

Seating layouts differ across sets: numbers 49 to 99 incorporate both longitudinal and transverse seating arrangements, while sets numbered 100 to 126 utilize longitudinal seating exclusively. Coupling mechanisms include Scharfenberg couplers initially installed and Dellner couplers added during refurbishments in 2013 and again in 2022.

Maintenance and storage depots for the B-series include Nowergup, Mandurah, and Claisebrook facilities. These trains represent a major investment in Western Australia's metropolitan rail network, reflecting Transperth’s dedication to providing efficient commuter transit services.

Design

Each train set is composed of three semi-permanently linked cars that can be operated individually as three-car units or combined into six-car formations. Unlike the preceding A-series, which employed DC traction motors, the B-series utilizes AC motors and achieves a maximum operational speed of .

The propulsion system employs IGBT inverters to power eight AC traction motors distributed throughout the three cars, resulting in approximately two-thirds of the train being motorized.

The design shares commonalities with Queensland Rail's IMU160/SMU260 electric multiple units, V/Line VLocity diesel multiple units, and Adelaide Metro 4000 class EMUs. The B-series was developed concurrently with the V/Line VLocity fleet.

History

Perth introduced its first electric trains with the two-car A-series units entering service in September 1991.

In May 2002, a contract valued at $437 million was awarded to the EDI Rail–Bombardier Transportation Joint Venture to supply 31 three-car B-series trains along with construction of the Nowergup depot. This procurement aimed to meet capacity demands driven by the Joondalup line extension to Clarkson, the Thornlie line branch, and the Mandurah line development. The contract included $24 million allocated for train manufacturing, $34 million for depot facilities, and $114 million covering maintenance over ten years.

These trains were engineered for higher speeds and longer station intervals on newer rail corridors. Planning documents highlighted potential overheating risks in propulsion and braking components if all-stop services were operated on older lines.

Modifications included platform lengthening at original stations on the Yanchep line, as well as at Showgrounds and West Leederville. New stations on the Mandurah and Yanchep lines—such as Butler, Clarkson, Currambine, and Greenwood—alongside rebuilt stations like Kelmscott, were constructed with extended platforms capable of accommodating six-car formations.

In December 2006, an additional $160 million contract was signed with EDI Rail–Bombardier to procure 15 more three-car B-series trains aimed at increasing capacity on Joondalup and Mandurah lines. Deliveries commenced in 2009, allowing redeployment of A-series units to other routes and enabling higher frequency services across the network. The first of these new trains entered operation on 28 June 2009.

May 2011 saw an announcement of a further order valued at $164 million for another 15 three-car B-series trains to support expansion towards Butler on the Joondalup line and general network growth. By November 2012, this order expanded to include 22 units with a total cost of $243 million. After completing this final delivery phase, all trains servicing Joondalup and Mandurah lines were exclusively B-series models.

The state budget released in May 2016 provided funding for an extra ten sets scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2020. This addition was intended to boost capacity on existing routes as well as support operations on the Forrestfield–Airport Link. By April 2019, all 78 three-car B-series train sets had been delivered and commissioned into service.

In service

By 2024, six-car B-series train sets are not the sole rolling stock on the Yanchep and Mandurah routes; A series and the newly introduced C series trains also operate frequently. On the other hand, three-car B-series units are dedicated exclusively to the Airport and Ellenbrook lines.

The B-series trains have received approval to run on the Midland, Armadale/Thornlie, and Fremantle lines, where they function alongside older A-series trains. Initial concerns regarding the impact of closely spaced stations on B-series train performance proved largely unfounded, except under extreme scenarios such as elevated temperatures combined with low voltage supply. Due to platform length restrictions at certain stops, three-car B-series configurations are typically deployed on these lines, a strategy that also applies to the newer Airport line.

Additional accessories

Starting in early 2016, B-series train sets numbered 115 and higher have been outfitted with USB charging ports as part of a six-month pilot program aimed at improving passenger convenience.