Adelaide Metro has announced that a dozen new electric trains on track for South Australia are to provide a more efficient, effective and greener public transport system for the State.
The Metro said the 12 new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains coming with 36 railcars are to join the Adelaide Metro train fleet over the next 12 months.
It said the EMUs were quieter than diesel trains, reducing noise impact to residents along rail corridors and using recovery energy during braking which meant more energy-efficient vehicles.
It said the new EMUs would be introduced progressively from early 2022.
The Metro said the number of electric railcars in the fleet would increase from 66 to 102, enabling fully electric operations on the Seaford, Flinders and Gawler train lines.
It said the new EMUs would be custom fitted for the Adelaide Metro fleet by Alstom, a locally represented company engaged to provide maintenance services to the metropolitan train operator, Keolis Downer.
It said this work would result in seven new full-time jobs and two apprenticeships.
Adelaide Metro said 45 of its fleet of 70 diesel railcars would be also upgraded with hybrid energy storage and recovery systems aimed at reducing fuel consumption, noise, vibration and diesel emissions.
It said the hybrid energy systems would enable excess energy to be recovered when the train was braking, to be stored in batteries for later use.
The Service said this would result in improved reliability and reduced operating costs of up to 20 per cent, plus a more attractive service for passengers by eliminating diesel fumes when trains were sitting undercover at Adelaide Railway Station.
It said once upgraded, the 45 diesel trains would be the only diesel vehicles required for service.
