Review: Auscision Models HO scale XPT Passenger Train Set

XPT Passenger Train - Prototype Overview

In March 1980, a contract was signed between the NSW Government and Commonwealth Engineering at Granville in Sydney for an initial order of 30 XPT vehicles. This order comprised 10 power cars, four first class cars fitted with guard’s compartments, four first class cars fitted with buffet facilities and 12 economy class trailers.

The first two vehicles, power car XP2000 and trailer car XF2200 were handed over on 23 August 1981. These vehicles, together with trailer car XF2201 and Southern Aurora baggage car MHN2364 commenced a whirl-wind tour of country NSW, just prior to a state election. On 6 September 1981, this consist set a new rail speed record near Gerogery (just north of Albury) when it travelled for a short distance at 183km/h.

The first revenue XPT service commenced operating in April 1982, replacing the loco-hauled Central West Express between Sydney and Orange/Dubbo. In May 1982, a second train commenced operating between Sydney and Kempsey, and in July 1982 the Riverina Express from Sydney to Albury was replaced by a third set. A fourth set commenced service in November 1982 replacing the Northern Tablelands Express to Armidale and Tenterfield, while in April 1983 the fifth and last set of the initial order commenced operating between Sydney and Canberra. At the time, the introduction of the XPT services represented a step-change in passenger train comfort, speed and reliability in NSW.

Between 1983 and 1993, three subsequent orders of further power and trailer cars entered service. In all, 19 power cars and 60 trailer cars were manufactured. The last 4 power cars, 8 x XAM sleeping cars and 5 x XL deluxe sitting cars were build by ABB Transportation at Dandenong in Victoria.

The State Rail Authourity of NSW CountryLink livery of mid blue, turquoise, grey and white was introduced in January 1990. In time, all XPT power cars and trailer cars would receive this livery.

In February 1990, XPT sets commenced operating from Sydney to Brisbane and Sydney to Murwillumbah, in both cases replacing locomotive hauled trains. In July 1993, the XAM sleeping cars were introduced on these two services. In November 1993, after many near starts over a nine year period, the XPT commenced travelling daily between Sydney and Melbourne.

Internally, the cars have undergone a number of refits and extensive upgrading over their life to ensure that high standards of passenger comfort are maintained. During some of these refurbishments, a number of carriage codes have changed (in a couple of cases cars have received five recodings over a number of years).

In September 1992, a special test train was operated using new XP power car XP2015 as lead unit from Sydney to Albury and return. On the return leg, an attempt was made to reach 200km/h between Table Top and Yerong Creek. The top speed fell a little short of the target, but 193km/h was still achieved.

CountryLink hired three Swedish X2000 tilt train carriages for evaluation between Sydney and Canberra between April and June 1995. To match these carriages, XPT power cars XP2000 and XP2009 received various modifications, most of which were internal, but the units were painted into a special livery of mid blue with a turquoise nose. The power cars were also marked up with lettering celebrating 140 years of rail service in NSW. Once the tilt train carriages departed Australia, the power cars had their X2000 Tilt Train lettering replaced with CountryLink lettering.

In 1996, power car XP2000 was repainted from the Tilt Train livery into a mid blue livery celebrating the then forthcoming Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In 2000, XPT power car XP2001 was painted in a striking predominantly orange and white livery acknowledging the Centenary of Federation.

CountryLink introduced a new corporate image in 2006 and all XPT power cars and trailer cars are progressively being repainted into this livery. This paint scheme is formally known as the RailCorp CountryLink livery. XP2000 was repainted in these colours and also received ‘150 Years of Rail in NSW’ decals. XP2001 was similarly painted but instead sported indigenous Naidoc decals.

As at mid 2010, XPT services operate between Sydney - Melbourne, Sydney - Casino, Sydney - Brisbane, Sydney - Grafton and Sydney - Dubbo.