The first of Alstom’s electric C-series trains has entered passenger service in Perth for the Western Australia Railcar Program.
This unit was delivered under a 2019 contract valued at 800 million EUR (1.3 billion AUD) for 41 electric 6-car trains and two diesel 3-car trains.
The Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) C-series vehicle is the first train to have been manufactured in Western Australia in over 30 years. It was built by Alstom at the METRONET facility in Perth as part of the government’s Railcar Program.
“The first train in passenger service is a special moment created through years of trusted partnership with the Western Australian Government showcasing the global expertise and local knowhow that we have here at Alstom.
“Seeing this train taking passengers today and meeting the expectations of the Western Australian Government is a source of great pride. We are manufacturing the best and most advanced train we can possibly make in Western Australia, alongside Western Australians and for the benefit of Western Australians. This is a special day in our company’s history in Australia.”
Prior to entering passenger service, the EMU train completed extensive testing and validation by Alstom on the Perth rail network.
The C-series train is based on Alstom’s X’trapolis commuter train platform and is designed to accommodate future upgrades throughout its operational life.
Each train has a capacity for up to 1,200 passengers and can travel at speeds of 130 km/h. They have a service life of 35 years and will be maintained by Alstom.
