PRESS RELEASE
Corporate
396 engines for Australian passenger trains
Posted on January 15, 2001
mtu Australia has achieved a notable success in the rail sector. The Australian subsidiary has received an order for nine 12V 396 engines from the conglomerate Walkers Ltd.
Sydney - mtu Australia has achieved a notable success in the rail sector. The Australian subsidiary has received an order for nine 12V 396 engines from the conglomerate Walkers Ltd. The engines are to be used to power two "push-pull" passenger trains - so called because they have a locomotive at both ends. Each locomotive is powered by two engines. The new trains are intended to substantially improve the connection from Brisbane to Cairns on Australia's east coast and, with speed of up to 160 km/h, should reduce the journey time by around 30 percent.
The operating company, Queensland Rail (QR), is aiming to use the new service to compete with air travel. The 1650-kilometre line follows a very winding rout, which is why the trains will be of the tilting variety. They will be required to cover 360,000 km a year and accordingly great emphasis was placed on the proven reliability of the engines. Walkers had to produce a new coach design for this particular route because it requires lightweigth trains. The decisive factor in the choice of mtu as the engines supplier, therefore, was that the 12V 396 engines have the best power-to-weight ratio in their class. The new trains are due to go into service at the end of 2002. If they prove to be conomically and technically viable, Queensland Rail plans to take up its option for a total of 15 push-pull trains.
The operating company, Queensland Rail (QR), is aiming to use the new service to compete with air travel. The 1650-kilometre line follows a very winding rout, which is why the trains will be of the tilting variety. They will be required to cover 360,000 km a year and accordingly great emphasis was placed on the proven reliability of the engines. Walkers had to produce a new coach design for this particular route because it requires lightweigth trains. The decisive factor in the choice of mtu as the engines supplier, therefore, was that the 12V 396 engines have the best power-to-weight ratio in their class. The new trains are due to go into service at the end of 2002. If they prove to be conomically and technically viable, Queensland Rail plans to take up its option for a total of 15 push-pull trains.