The Government of New South Wales in Australia has placed an order to procure an additional 17 Waratah Series two trains for the Sydney rail network.
The procurement will be an addition to the previously ordered 24 vehicles and will increase Sydney’s Waratah Series two train fleet to 41 units.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the order will cost nearly A$900m ($638.19m). To be manufactured in China, the trains are expected to start operating next year.
New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said: “Already 12 of the new Waratah Series 2 trains have been introduced to the suburban network, and the rest are being progressively rolled out over the next few months.
“By bolstering our order by another 17 trains, we will make the network more reliable and more comfortable for customers.”
The trains will feature double deck carriages, air-conditioning with temperature control and high-definition customer information screens.
Additionally, the trains will be designed with priority seating, wheelchair spaces and hearing aid loops.
The Waratah vehicles will also be equipped with internal and external CCTV cameras and customer help points.
Constance added: “We are investing record amounts into the existing rail network and delivering a world-class turn-up-and-go service in Sydney Metro at the same time.”
Since 2016, the provincial government has employed 450 additional train drivers in order to provide more frequent train services.
Last month, the New South Wales government launched a study to implement a high-speed rail network in the province.
The study will assess the feasibility of implementing high-speed rail in four potential routes located within 300km of Sydney.
