Sydney Inner West Trams Withdrawn

[40129]

Just seen this in a Sydney Morning Herald article that has been shared on Facebook.

Apparently, the CAF Urbos 3 trams used on the Inner West light rail have had to be withdrawn from service due to cracks being discovered. This would appear to be the same model of tram as that used by West Midlands Metro which iirc had a similar problem.

Note to mods: Cannot link to article due to my Rail Forum and Facebook accounts being on separate devices

 

[nlogax]

Sydney’s Inner West light rail network will likely be out of service for several weeks at least, with cracks discovered in every single tram that has undergone recent safety inspections.

The Herald revealed last week that cracks were discovered in some of the trams which service the L1 Dulwich Hill line which prompted the service to shut down.

More intensive investigations have discovered cracks in all six trams so far inspected.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...ered-in-inner-west-trams-20211031-p594rr.html

 

[gordonthemoron]

I wonder if ths issue will also be found on the Newcastle NSW trams that were purchased from CAF at the same time?

 

[jedimasterc]

This issue is specific to the IWLR because of the track used and an extremely tight curve at the powerhouse museum. Newcastle and Canberra should be fine as they don't have the same issues as the IWLR which was built on an old heavy rail line and didn't convert to tram gauge track.

EDIT / UPDATE: There is also a section near Central station that comes down a ramp at a steep grade and turns tight left. Neither Newcastle or Canberra have this problem.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...ered-in-inner-west-trams-20211031-p594rr.html

No longer a few weeks.
More like 18 months:

Sydney’s inner west light rail will be decommissioned for up to 18 months due to serious “design flaws” in all 12 tram sets that operate on the line from the city centre to Dulwich Hill.

It is a dramatic escalation since three days ago, when senior Transport bureaucrats estimated that trams on the light rail line would be suspended for at least a month.

Transport Minister Rob Stokes said he was advised by transport officials in a briefing on Friday afternoon that the inner west light rail fleet would now be decommissioned for up to 18 months while the “design flaws” found in the wheel arches of the trams were fixed.

Sydney’s inner west light rail line out of action for up to 18 months

The severity of cracks in all 12 trams that operate on the line has forced the government to decommission the line for up to 18 months.

www.smh.com.au

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This issue is specific to the IWLR because of the track used and an extremely tight curve at the powerhouse museum. Newcastle and Canberra should be fine as they don't have the same issues as the IWLR which was built on an old heavy rail line and didn't convert to tram gauge track.

EDIT / UPDATE: There is also a section near Central station that comes down a ramp at a steep grade and turns tight left. Neither Newcastle or Canberra have this problem.

So fixing the trams will not actually solve the problem?
I've used the IWLR for its full length and it didn't seem to have tighter curves than, say, Manchester Metrolink in its street running.
I see they are consulting West Midlands Metro who have the same sort of CAF tram and mix of old heavy rail and street running.

 

[SLTRegular]

I'd say the main issue would be the approach to central station the gradient and turn would be stressful on an empty load never mind a crush load which every L1 is.

 

[peterinsurrey]

the original Variotrams had the design modified based off the German origins to cater for that twisty gradient on the Central Station ramps. As afar as CAF is concerned, I'd like to see how the Amsterdam CAFs handle the canal bridges over time, in light of the Combino issues

 

[DanielB]

As afar as CAF is concerned, I'd like to see how the Amsterdam CAFs handle the canal bridges over time, in light of the Combino issues

The Amsterdam CAF trams have no cabin for the conductor and therefore only run on the routes 5 and 19 which have no conductor. And on route 25, which runs with coupled trams and the conductor in one of the middle cabs.
Those three routes have one thing in common besides the rolling stock: they don't pass over any canal bridges. (The bridges they do pass are ordinary flat bridges)

 

[jedimasterc]

So fixing the trams will not actually solve the problem?
I've used the IWLR for its full length and it didn't seem to have tighter curves than, say, Manchester Metrolink in its street running.
I see they are consulting West Midlands Metro who have the same sort of CAF tram and mix of old heavy rail and street running.

The cracks sound like they are significant enough that the CAF's will need to be replaced. Not sure what exactly the NSW Government is thinking about doing at the moment because the faction of the liberal party that are now in charge might be less rail friendly and so may just stick to bustitution.

 

[ozziepost]

From the SMH:

On Saturday, Transdev – which operates the inner west light rail and the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines – said the cracking on the inner west trams was “extensive”.

Transdev Sydney managing director Arsene Durand-Raucher said the company believed it made the right decision to halt tram services while inspections continue. The Randwick and Kingsford light rail lines are operating as normal.

But no mention in the press as far as I can see of the different units on the other lines. Just wondering if they’ve been examined?

 

[jedimasterc]

The Alstoms on the south east as well as the CAFS in Canberra and Newcastle will obviously be checked. The problem seems to be around the bogie wheel boxes from some footage seen in the news and online. It may not actually be to do with the curves but just poor quality workmanship and materials. Definetly expecting a new order of trams now for the inner west and possibly a different solution for Parramatta.

 

[SLTRegular]

Newcastle's trams have also now been withdrawn. These are battery versions of Caf trams.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The Alstoms on the south east as well as the CAFS in Canberra and Newcastle will obviously be checked. The problem seems to be around the bogie wheel boxes from some footage seen in the news and online. It may not actually be to do with the curves but just poor quality workmanship and materials. Definetly expecting a new order of trams now for the inner west and possibly a different solution for Parramatta.

is Paramatta getting trams?

 

[station_road]

is Paramatta getting trams?

Yes, should open in 2023 although some track is already down

Link to NSW website for Parramatta light rail

 

[gordonthemoron]

@station_road great news, the inlaws are just about to move to Lidcombe (rented) and will be looking to buy somewhere in the Lidcombe/Auburn/Parramatta area in the near future

 

[jedimasterc]

@station_road great news, the inlaws are just about to move to Lidcombe (rented) and will be looking to buy somewhere in the Lidcombe/Auburn/Parramatta area in the near future

Atleast those places are right on the main train line in to the city. Parramatta LR won't be something they would use.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

L2/3 Trams have been tested on the L1 these past few weeks in single formation. I dont think they will work at Central station but maybe a workaround can be found for Chinatown to Dulwich Hill

There are videos of the tram 05 grounding out on the Exit ramp at Central station so i just can't see them making it in service via the conventional Turning Circle.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Don't L2/3 trams use the eastern half of the L1 route to reach the maintenance base at Lilyfield?
They don't use the Central loop for this.

 

[SLTRegular]

Yes but not the silly Central loop section.

Citadis have been confirmed to start operating on the L1 from February as far as Lillyfield with a 15 minute frequency. They will operate the full route a month or so later


Edit: only 4 trams will be used on L1 according to Local news

 

[SLTRegular]

Caf 2117 on Test today first one noted back