Hitachi (train)

Infobox EMU
background =
name = Hitachi

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imagesize = 300px
caption = Connex refurbished Hitachi at Flinders Street Station
interior

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interiorcaption = Interior of an unrefurbished Hitachi carriage
InService =
Manufacturer = Commonwealth Engineering (electrics), Bayswater (bodies), Martin & King Somerton ('M' car fitout), Newport Workshops (fitout and Trailers)
factory =
Family =
Built =
Refurbishment =
replaced = 'Swing Door'
yearconstruction = 1972 - 1981
yearservice = 1972 - Present
yearscrapped = 2003 - Present
numberconstruction =
numberbuilt = 118 (3 car sets)
numberservice = 14 (3 car sets, permanently marshalled as 6 car sets)
numberscrapped = 48 (3 car sets)
Formation = M-T-T-M D-M, later M-T-M M-T-M
designation = 1-237 (Motors), 1901-2017 (Trailers)
Operator = Victorian Railways and successors, M>Train, Connex
Depots = All Connex depots
LinesServed = All Melbourne suburban
CarBody = Fluted stainless steel
CarLength = 23.9m (Motor car), 23.9m (Trailer car)
CarWidth = 2900 mm
CarHeight = 3760mm (Not including pantograph)
floorheight =
platformheight =
entrylevelorstep =
art-sections = Open gangway
MaxSpeed = 70mph / 115 km/h
Weight = 41t
Capacity = 536 seated (6 car)
Acceleration =
Deceleration =
Traction = 4 x Hitachi HS 834 Springbourne (150 HP) per M car
Power =
Gauge =
Voltage = 1500V DC overhead
Brakes =
SafetySystem =

Hitachi train is a colloquial expression for one of a set of electric multiple unit trains that operate on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Introduced to service in 1972, the trains are the oldest in the city's suburban fleet still in revenue service. Electrical equipment was supplied by Commonwealth Engineering to designs by Hitachi of Japan, leading to their official name today, though no actual Hitachi-supplied components were used in their construction!cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854-2004 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing Ltd |date=2007 |isbn= 9780522851342 |page=p.186] Hitachi trains have been also known as Martin & King or Stainless Steel trains officially. [ [http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c266m.htm Peter J Vincent - "M - Hitachi/M&K Suburban Motor"] ] cite book
year = 1981
title = Power Parade
author = VicRail Public Relations
isbn = 0 7241 3323 2 ]

Configuration

The single-deck Hitachi trains operate as "M-T-M-M-T-M" sets of six carriages (two coupled sets of three carriages arranged with two motorised carriages on either end of a motorless "trailer" carriage).

Based on a successful trial of longer Harris trailer cars built between 1967 and 1971, the Hitachi train used carriages convert|75|ft|m|abbr=on long, up from the standard convert|59|ft|m|abbr=on length of the earlier suburban cars. The revised carriage design enabled a six car Hitachi train to seat 560 passengers, up from 540 for a seven car Harris train. Maximum load for a Hitachi was 1500 passengers, 300 more than a Harris.

As delivered, Hitachi trains were comprised of three types of carriage, M (motor carriages including a driver's cabin at one end), T (trailer carriages with no motors), and D (a trailer carriage with a small driver's cabin). These cars were arranged in sets of M-T-T-M and M-D, which could be arranged together to create a six car set. All but one of the 68 D carriages produced were later converted into T carriages. (The exception being D 353 was involved in a collision at Pakenham, that also resulted in the scrapping of Guard's Van Z 286) The first M and D carriages delivered were provided with nose doors at the front of the cab. These were later removed from the early carriages, and the feature was omitted from later sets.

The previous carriage configurations were replaced by the current symmetrical three- and six-carriage setup by the late 1970s for the opening of the City Loop. A total of 355 carriages were built, although one of these was to replace a carriage written off in an accident while the fleet was still being delivered.

Service

Intended to replace the first generation of electric trains, the Swing Door and Tait trains, the stainless steel Hitachi trains were the first Melbourne suburban trains to feature heated carriages and power-closing doors (operated by the driver, opened by the passengers by hand). The M and D carriages were built by Martin & King, and the T carriages by the Victorian Railways.

The first Hitachi train to operate in revenue service was the four-carriage set 1M-901T-902T-2M, on the St Kilda line (now converted to light rail), on 24 December 1972. The 237 motor carriages that have been in service have been numbered 1M through 237M, and the 117 trailer carriages, 1901T through 2017T.

Carriages originally ran in a plain stainless silver livery, receiving green and gold side stripe with the introduction of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the side logos being altered with the re-branding as "The Met". The side logos were again altered with the introduction of Hillside Trains and Bayside Trains, with the latter also applying branding to the front. [cite web
url=http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p787390.htm
title=Prayer is asking for a Hitachi, faith is carrying the camera - Railpage Australia™ Forums (Melbourne suburban)
publisher=www.railpage.com.au
accessdate=2008-06-23]

Retirement and refurbishment

New X'Trapolis and Siemens train have been progressively introduced since 2002 to replace the ageing Hitachi fleet, which has been largely withdrawn from service. [cite web
url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/11f92c2160b6c533ca256c93007bbcaf?OpenDocument
title=Media Release: X’TRAPOLIS WELCOMED TO MELBOURNE’S RAILWAYS
publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-03-14] The newer trains have features such as power-opening doors and air conditioning, the lack of the latter feature making the Hitachis unpopular with Melbourne commuters. [cite web| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ministers-defends-train-buyback/2007/04/23/1177180526376.html?s_cid=rss_age |title=Minister defends train buyback |author=Moynihan, Stephen |publisher=theage.com.au |date=2007-04-23 |accessdate=2007-06-21]

The final six 6-carriage trains were to be withdrawn after the 2006 Commonwealth Games, [cite web
url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/e10ace336d254909ca2570cf007e4b90!OpenDocument
title=Media Release: NEW SIEMENS TRAIN HITS THE TRACKS
publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-03-16
date=December 6, 2005] but will instead will receive a minor refurbishment and be retained until a date that is yet to be confirmed, due to a high increase in patronage. Withdrawn carriages have either been scrapped, sold to private buyers across Australia, stored, or acquired by railway museums and preservation groups.

A report in February 2007 [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-dads-army-of-shunted-carriages-called-up-in-crisis/2007/02/03/1169919582402.html A Dad's Army of shunted carriages called up in crisis] , The Age 4 Feb 2007] (by which time 31 trains in the Siemens fleet were out of service due to safety concerns) said the Victorian Government was negotiating to lease one 6-carriage set from Elecrail, a rail preservation group and repurchase another 3 carriages from a private seller to supplement the fleet. An additional three 3-car Hitachi trains were purchased back from Australian businessman Mr Horne, by the Victorian government in April 2007 to provided spare parts for the fleet. The Elecrail set re-entered service in December 2007. [cite web
url=http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=suburban&section=rollingstock&set=7
title=VICSIG - Suburban Trains
publisher=www.vicsig.net
accessdate=2008-03-14]

Cab air conditioning has since been rolled out to the remaining fleet. In late 2007 Hitachi set 37M-1979T-36M - 110M-1910T-42M was modified to meet driver union requirements and also re-stickered into Connex livery, with the remaining sets progressively receiving the same treatment as well as a refurbished interior.

In September 2008 Public Transport Safety Victoria withdrew the remaining trains from service due to concerns over corrosion around the doors and floor. A series of tests will be carried out before the trains are sent to the Ballarat North Workshops for repair work. [cite web
url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/overcrowding-but-trains-taken-out-of-system-20080904-49xr.html?page=-1
title=Commuter overcrowding, but silver Hitachi trains taken out of Melbourne's rail system
author=Clay Lucas
date=September 5, 2008
work=The Age
publisher=theage.com.au
accessdate=2008-09-05]

References

* [http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=suburban&traintype=Hitachi Hitachi trains at VICSIG]
* [http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c266m.htm Peter J Vincent: Hitachi M cars]
** [http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c123m.htm Peter J Vincent: Hitachi T cars]
** [http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/c116m.htm Peter J Vincent: Hitachi D cars]