NZR ADK class (Diesel Multiple Unit)
Encyclopedia
The ADK class consists of nine diesel multiple unit
(DMU) cars each coupled to an ADB class trailer, operating on Auckland
's suburban rail network. The Auckland Regional Council
(ARC) owns these units, and they are operated by Veolia
.
These units were built for the Western Australian Government Railways
(WAGR) in 1967-68. The ADK driving units were manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering
, and the ADB trailer units were manufactured at the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops
.
They were purchased along with the newer ADL/ADC class
units by New Zealand Rail Limited
in 1993 to replace suburban carriage trains then used in Auckland. Later that year, they were sold by NZR to the Auckland Regional Council. The units were credited with an increase in patronage in the Auckland system, but have a number of reliability problems due to their age.
In 2004 the ARC funded the upgrade of the entire class, which included refurbishment of the interiors of the units and the painting of the exterior in the new MAXX colour scheme. The upgrade also include mechanical improvements which would extend the useful life of these units by 10 years. After the upgrades were completed, ADK/ADB trains ran as permanent 4-car sets rather than the 2-car sets they ran as previously. All ADKs are refurbished, except ADB 773 (stored at Westfield) and ADK 689 (which never came to New Zealand).
.
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
(DMU) cars each coupled to an ADB class trailer, operating on Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
's suburban rail network. The Auckland Regional Council
Auckland Regional Council
The Auckland Regional Council was the regional council of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989...
(ARC) owns these units, and they are operated by Veolia
Veolia (New Zealand)
Veolia Transport Auckland, formerly Connex Auckland Ltd, is a division of Australasia's largest passenger train company, French-owned Veolia. It runs Auckland's urban passenger trains under contract from Auckland Transport under their MAXX brand, on infrastructure owned and managed by KiwiRail...
.
History
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
(WAGR) in 1967-68. The ADK driving units were manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering
Commonwealth Engineering
The Commonwealth Engineering Company Limited is the brand name of a former Australian Engineering Company that designed Locomotives, Electrical Multiple Units , Diesel Multiple Units and Trams.-History:...
, and the ADB trailer units were manufactured at the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops
Midland Railway Workshops
The Midland Railway Workshops in Midland, Western Australia were the main workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways for over 80 years.-History:...
.
They were purchased along with the newer ADL/ADC class
NZR ADL class (Diesel Multiple Unit)
The ADL class consists of ten diesel multiple unit cars each coupled to an ADC class trailer, built by Goninan for the Western Australian Government Railways in the early 1980s. They were purchased by New Zealand Rail Limited in 1993 to replace suburban carriage trains used in Auckland...
units by New Zealand Rail Limited
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
in 1993 to replace suburban carriage trains then used in Auckland. Later that year, they were sold by NZR to the Auckland Regional Council. The units were credited with an increase in patronage in the Auckland system, but have a number of reliability problems due to their age.
In 2004 the ARC funded the upgrade of the entire class, which included refurbishment of the interiors of the units and the painting of the exterior in the new MAXX colour scheme. The upgrade also include mechanical improvements which would extend the useful life of these units by 10 years. After the upgrades were completed, ADK/ADB trains ran as permanent 4-car sets rather than the 2-car sets they ran as previously. All ADKs are refurbished, except ADB 773 (stored at Westfield) and ADK 689 (which never came to New Zealand).
Future
All ADK units have been scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2015 at the end of the Auckland rail electrification projectAuckland Railway electrification
The Auckland railway electrification has been proposed for several decades, but physical works only began in the late 2000s. After investment into new infrastructure and improved services created massive patronage gains on Auckland's commuter rail network in the middle 2000s, the long-discussed...
.
Specifications
- Width: 2.7 m
- Height: 3.8 m
- Length: 20.3 m (ADK), 15.9 m (ADB)
- Seating capacitySeating capacitySeating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
: 134 (total): 70 (ADK) + 64 (ADB) - Standing capacity: 72 (total): 50 (ADK) + 32 (ADB)
- Passenger doors: air-operated sliding doors, 2 pairs each side (ADK), one pair each side (ADB), 0.915 m wide
- Step height from rail level: 1.1 m
- Air conditioned: no
Class register
| Number | Introduced | Current status | Current livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADK 681 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue MAXX Blue (livery) thumb|Passengers board a MAXX branded Northern Express operated by [[Ritchies Coachlines]] on the [[Northern Busway, Auckland|Northern Busway]].... |
(old photo) |
| ADK 682 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue MAXX Blue (livery) thumb|Passengers board a MAXX branded Northern Express operated by [[Ritchies Coachlines]] on the [[Northern Busway, Auckland|Northern Busway]].... |
(photo) |
| ADK 683 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | (old photo) |
| ADK 684 | In service | MAXX Blue | ||
| ADK 685 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 686 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 687 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 688 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADK 689 | July 1993 | Not in service | Trans Perth | Never shipped to New Zealand |
| ADK 690 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 771 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | (old photo) |
| ADB 772 | In service | MAXX Blue | ||
| ADB 773 | July 1993 | Not in service | Trans Perth | ADB 778 was renumbered to 773. Storage at Westfield, spare parts. |
| ADB 774 | In service | MAXX Blue | ||
| ADB 775 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 776 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue | |
| ADB 777 | In service | MAXX Blue | ||
| ADB 778 | In service | MAXX Blue | Renumbered ADB 773; paired with ADK 683 | |
| ADB 779 | In service | MAXX Blue | Renumbered ADB 778; paired with ADK 688 | |
| ADB 780 | July 1993 | In service | MAXX Blue |