The trains were then locomotive hauled to Sydney for testing. The A sets were partially constructed by Changchun Railway Vehicles in Changchun, China, then shipped to Downer Rail at Cardiff for final assembly and static testing. A sets are numbered A1, A3-A78, then A80, while B sets are numbered B1-B41.īoth variants were co-manufactured by Changchun Railway Vehicles in Changchun, China, and Downer Rail at Cardiff, NSW. A further 17 B sets were ordered in 2019. The B sets were progressively rolled out from 2018 with the final 24th train entering service the following year, allowing the S sets to be retired once again. These became known as the Series 2 Waratah B sets, which serve the same roles and features as the A sets, but with some additional upgraded features. As a consequence, an order of 24 additional trains was placed in December 2016.
The Aboriginal word 'Waratah' means 'beautiful' or 'seen from afar'.Īlthough initially intended to replace the L, R and S Sets, there was an insufficient number of A sets to facilitate increased services from the 2017 timetable.
A total of 78 A sets and 41 B sets are in service as of June 2021. The Sydney Waratah Trains (A and B sets) is a current class of electric multiple unit operating on the Sydney Trains network.
