New South Wales K set

what is it?

The New South Wales K set is a class of double-decker electric multiple unit trains (EMUs) that formerly operated on Sydney's suburban railway network. Built by A Goninan & Co, the K sets first entered service in 1981 operating under the State Rail Authority, and later CityRail and Sydney Trains before being retired from service in October 2026. The first set entered service as 8 car R1 (not used for 6 car trains until 1984).

who runs it

SRState Rail Authority of New South WalesCICityRailSydney Trains

base stats

• speed 115 km/htop speed
• power 1.2 MWpower output
• weight 188 tin working order
• seats 452passengers
• built 160made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

• 🎂First built 45 years ago, in 1981.
• 🚗1.2 MW is about 14 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
• 🐘Weighs about as much as 31 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 📏81.5 m long: about 18 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🧍Seats 452: 9 full city buses (~50 seats each).
• ⌛Served for 45 years (1981–2026).

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built

1981

in service from

1981

retired

2026

status

retired

number built

160

kind

Electric multiple unit

traction

electric

origin

🇦🇺 Australia

builders

UGL Rail

operators

State Rail Authority of New South Wales, CityRail, Sydney Trains

top speed

115 km/h

power

1.2 MW

gauge

1,435 mm standard gauge

electric system

(nominal) from overhead catenary

wheel arrangement

Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′

formation

4-car sets

length

81.5 m

weight

188 t

capacity

452 passengers

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.