Mariyung Fleet

Reviewed

Project overview

We are delivering a new, state-of-the-art fleet of intercity trains, called the Mariyung, that will provide a new level of comfort and convenience for the thousands of customers who travel between Sydney and the Central Coast and Newcastle, the Blue Mountains, and the South Coast.

Key benefits

Improved accessibility, enhanced safety, improved comfort and modern features including:

  • wider, more spacious two-by-two seating for extra room and comfort with arm rests, tray tables, and high seat backs
  • charging ports for mobile devices, and dedicated spaces for luggage, prams and bicycles
  • improved accessibility including dedicated space for wheelchairs and accessible toilets
  • improved customer information through digital information screens and announcements, CCTV and help points, and modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The Mariyung fleet of 610 carriages will offer improved safety, accessibility, comfort and modern features for customers who make approximately  26 million journeys a year on the electrified intercity network.

Take a tour of the new train here:

Project status

The NSW Government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union have signed a deed on a final operating model for the new electric Mariyung trains, which will run on the Newcastle and Central Coast, Blue Mountains and South Coast Lines.

The new Mariyung fleet continues to undergo testing between Central and Springwood, and Central and Newcastle to examine mechanical and electrical systems ahead of work to undertake modifications to the fleet as agreed in a signed deed with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union in August 2023.

These tests are needed to inform the detailed design of the modifications and the next steps towards getting these world-class trains ready for passenger service.

The Mariyung fleet will gradually begin to enter passenger service in the second half of 2024. 

Project updates

Name of the new fleet

The New Intercity Fleet has been named 'Mariyung', the Darug word for Emu, in acknowledgement of local Aboriginal culture.

The Mariyung fleet will run through many Aboriginal Countries such as Darug country, as well as at final destinations in Wiradjuri Country in the west at Lithgow;  Awabakal Country to the north at Newcastle and Dharawal Country to the south at Kiama.

The artwork for the train’s exterior has been designed by Darug woman, Leanne Mulgo Watson.

 
For more information on the name and the artwork, see the video below.

Customer engagement and train design - 2018

The process for designing the interior of the new fleet included a range of detailed engagement activities with customers.

A number of customer groups provided feedback on the train designs, including vision, mobility, hearing and cognitive impaired groups, aged customers and those travelling with children, luggage and bicycles.

In 2018 a life-size model of the new train, built to replicate the train during the detailed design phase, allowed staff and customers to gain a first-hand experience of the new train. The model was used to conduct end-user stakeholder engagement to inform and refine the design of the new train.

For more information view the customer engagement and train design (PDF, 980.35 KB)

Customer engagement and train design - 2020

The new fleet has been designed to comply with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport. In October 2020, members from the Accessible Transport Advisory Committee (ATAC) participated in a final train design verification activity at Central Station. As part of the session, representatives from various ATAC member organisations had the opportunity to view the train and understand how their feedback during the design phase has been incorporated into the final design.

Train arrival and testing in April 2020

To see the journey from the arrival of the first two new trains to completing their first stages of testing, including travelling on the network under their own power. 

Following the first test run to Katoomba Station on the Blue Mountains Line in 2020, a Mariyung train travelled from Sydney to Lithgow, marking the first time a new electric train has travelled to the station since the last of the V-Sets was introduced 30 years ago.

See the features of the new trains

The fly-through animation below provides a first-look inside the new Mariyung trains, showing key customer features including spacious two-by-two seating, charging ports for mobile devices, improved accessibility, and improved customer information.

The Mariyung trains will replace the aged V-Set trains - some of the oldest trains running on the electrified network in NSW. Take a look at some of the improvements on board here:

The animation is representative of the detailed design of the new train.

 

Independent Review of the Mariyung Fleet Operating Model

Transport for NSW commissioned an Independent Review of NSW TrainLink’s proposed method of operating the Mariyung. The independent review was commissioned to determine whether the proposed operating model is safe, how the model compares to current train fleet operating conditions for the guard and how this model compares with methods being used by other train operators internationally. The review found the new model is safer than the current train fleet operating conditions for guards.

For more information view the Independent Review of the New Intercity Fleet Operating Model - December 2019 (PDF, 1.2 MB)

In 2020, a follow up review was conducted to assess progress against the findings and recommendations made in the 2019 report. This review found that sufficient progress has been made on the recommendations, with satisfactory results from the trials undertaken of the train’s safety features including door safety systems and CCTV. This review continues to report that the new operating model is safe, safer than the current train fleet operating conditions for guards and safer than the methods used by the international train operating community.

For more information view the Independent Review of the New Intercity Fleet Operating Model – September 2020. (PDF, 1.29 MB)

Project News

Please contact us if you could like to join the project mailing list.

Email projects@transport.nsw.gov.au
Call 1800 684 490
For urgent enquires or complaints regarding construction activities, please call our 24-hour line on 1800 775 465.