History
The Siemens trains were first ordered by the now defunct M>Train, one of two private operators which ran the network at that time. The Siemens trains, along with the Connex-ordered X'Trapolis trains, were intended to replace the ageing Hitachi trains, of which only six 3-carriage trains now remain.
Unlike the Connex Melbourne/Hillside franchise and its X'Trapolis trains, the Siemens trains were not originally proposed by National Express in the privatization agreement. The original contract specified trains built by Clyde Engineering (now EDI Rail) using Adtranz (now Bombardier Transportation) traction equipment.
Melbourne's original order was for 62 3-car sets, with an option for an additional ten 3-car sets. The metropolitan network was then acquired and run wholly by Connex Melbourne until late 2009, with ownership of the Siemens trains transferred in April 2004, but an additional ten trains were ordered by Connex Melbourne in August 2005, with the last of these trains delivered in February 2006.
Siemens Rail Services (a subsidiary of Siemens Ltd in Australia) was contracted to provide maintenance of the trains for a period of 15 years (subject to refranchising) at their Newport depot. With the refranchising of the network to Metro Trains Melbourne in 2009, this maintenance arrangement has been retained for an initial three-year period.
Read more about this topic: Siemens Nexas
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