The New South Wales Government has shared an update on the Regional Rail project, with two new trains now being tested on the network.  

The project is replacing the current regional rail fleet of XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains with 29 “safe, comfortable and more accessible trains” for customers travelling across New South Wales and between Sydney and Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. Nine of 29 trains are now in Australia. 

All of the long regional trains have been manufactured, half of the short regional trains have been built and production is underway on the remaining carriages.  

On average, one train is expected to arrive at Port Kembla every six to eight weeks.  

Train testing is also progressing, with around 1500 hours completed so far.  

Two trains are currently undergoing intensive trials across electrified and non-electrified rail, testing their bi-mode capability which uses both overhead electric and diesel rail – a first for passenger rail in Australia, according to the NSW Government.  

Meanwhile the $40.3 million XPT life-extension program is moving forward to ensure “safe and reliable trains” continue to run while the new fleet goes through testing and accreditation from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.  

The Regional Rail Fleet contract was awarded in February 2019 to Momentum Trains, a consortium of CAF, UGL Rail and Pacific Partnerships. 

The trains are manufactured in Spain and begin testing there before being transported to Mindyarra Maintenance Centre in Dubbo for train completion work and then testing, both within the centre and out on the network.  

Once the train fit-out and static testing are completed, dynamic testing will be carried out from Mindyarra Maintenance Centre and Auburn Heavy Maintenance Centre. 

NSW TrainLink will operate the new long and short regional trains, replacing the current XPT and XPLORER fleet.

Sydney Trains will operate the new regional intercity trains, replacing most of the current Endeavour fleet. 

The new trains were originally meant to enter service in 2023. 

Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison has blamed the former Liberal Government’s offshore private model for the delay.  

“We will always make sure regional passengers have safe, reliable and high-quality transport,” she said.  

“People can now see the distinctive orange fleet on the tracks across NSW. 

“We are rebuilding confidence in regional rail and delivering the fleet regional NSW deserves.”