Alstom X'Trapolis 100 EMU

The X'Trapolis 100 is a single deck electric multiple unit. It is part of Alstom's X'Trapolis family of trains, and is operated in Melbourne, Australia and Valparaíso, Chile.

First order
In 2000, Connex Melbourne ordered 58 X'Trapolis 100 trains to fulfill a franchise commitment to replace its fleet of aging Hitachi trains. The first ten units were completely assembled at Alstom's, La Rochelle factory in France, however, from unit 11 onwards, only the body shells were assembled at La Rochelle, with the rest of the train being assembled in Victoria at Alstom's Ballarat facility.

The trains differ from earlier trains on the Melbourne network in the following ways:
 * Doors open when button pressed
 * Sliding doors between carriages
 * 1 pantograph per 3-car train

In service
The first X'Trapolis 100 entered revenue service on 27 December 2002, with the last train delivered from the first order on 17 December 2004. It ran a special trip from Flinders Street to South Kensington and back to mark the event.

Since their introduction to the suburban network in 2002, the trains operated only on the former Connex Melbourne Hillside Trains network (which consisted of the Burnley and Clifton Hill group lines), and did not run revenue services elsewhere operated by M>Train on the Bayside Trains half of the system, despite the two networks merging in 2004.

On 22 October 2014, the operation of X'Trapolis 100 trains was expanded to include lines on the former Bayside Trains network with the Frankston line being cleared for their operation and initially running two weekday morning-peak services.

On 20 November 2016, X'Trapolis 100 trains were expanded to full-time running on the Frankston line and began operating services on the Werribee and Williamstown lines the same day.

Although Melbourne's trains operate as either one or two 3-car units, it was not until September 2007 that the X'Trapolis 100s were permitted to operate as single-units in revenue service.

The trains have power-operated doors that open when a button on the door is pressed and are closed by the driver or closed automatically after approximately two minutes.

The X'Trapolis 100s are currently the only suburban trains in Melbourne with external destination displays on the sides of the carriages with this feature only seen on the diesel powered Sprinter and VLocity rail motors.

Several trains were given names: Croydon West (primary school that won a naming contest), Don Corrie (deceased railway employee), Flash, Flinders Flyer, Iramoo (primary school that won a naming contest), Melbourne Rocks and Westernport. X'Trapolis 100 863M-1632T-864M-897M-1649T-898M was the first Melbourne train to receive the new ‘Metro’ livery in November 2009, in preparation for the launch of the new suburban operator. When the Connex livery was retired in place of the current Metro design, the Iramoo name (shown on units 851M and 852M) was erroneously written as Imaroo. This spelling is still unchanged as of August 2018.

In November 2018, X'Trapolis 100 trains’ operations were expanded to the Flemington Racecourse line.

Second and third orders
In July 2007 the Government of Victoria announced that Alstom was one of two companies invited to bid to build 10 new six-car trains for the existing network. Siemens Transportation Systems was the other company, and both were limited to supplying trains that were the same as those already supplied to Melbourne. The Department of Infrastructure found that the new trains delivered less than one additional peak-hour service across the entire network, and had initially lobbied the Government to buy 20 six-carriage trains. In October 2007 the tender was extended to 18 six-car trains, to be delivered by 2010. The tender was awarded to Alstom in December 2007 and the trains were delivered in a staged roll-out from late 2009. In February 2009 an additional order was placed, with 20 more six car trains added, taking the total to 38 trains.

The first of 19 trains that were built by Alstom in Italy were loaded onto a ship in July 2009, with the first set arriving at Newport Workshops on 24 August 2009. The remaining 19 trains were assembled at United Group's Ballarat plant, under a state government requirement for a minimum of 40% local content.

The new trains were originally used in revenue service on lines already cleared for their operation, with some Comeng trains on these lines being cascaded across to the other side of the network.

By late September the new units, numbered 1M-1301T-2M and 3M-1302T-4M, were moved into the open at the Newport Workshops and had been taken out on test runs without any livery applied. By October the train had received carriage numbers and names, with compatibility testing being carried out with a modified member of the existing fleet. By December 2009 the first set had received the Metro Trains Melbourne livery, and was running stopping-all-stations test runs without passengers on the Epping line.

The second train to be imported was taken to Ballarat immediately after arrival due to floor damage, with Alstom and United Group Rail spending two months making repairs. This train was transferred to Melbourne on 28 February.

X'Trapolis 100 sets from this order differed slightly from a passenger perspective. The trains were delivered with improved internal and external display screens. All external side of carriage screens and windscreen destination displays were replaced with a larger, bolder font. The same improvement was made to the internal carriage display screens with all first-generation X'Trapolis 100s later being re fitted with the same larger displays.

Improvements were also made to the internal audio systems along with minor technical improvements for drivers.

The first train entered revenue service for a few hours on 30 December 2009, despite claims that train drivers were still having problems with the train, including getting the onboard passenger information display units to work, the train being taken out of service the next day.

On 15 February 2010 rail operator Metro planned to reintroduce the train into service, but drivers refused to operate it, citing unresolved safety issues. As a result, Metro took the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to the federal industrial tribunal. On 18 February union representatives and Metro management met for private talks before Fair Work Australia, on 20 February an agreement was reached for the train to enter service that afternoon, an event that became a media circus.

The final train set comprising units 151M-1376T-152M entered service in April 2012.

Fourth order
A further order of 7 six-car trains was made by the Victorian Government in 2011. The first train from this order was delivered in September 2012, five months ahead of schedule.

The final set in this order, comprising units 179M-1390T-180M entered service on 14 June 2013.

Fifth order
In April 2013, a further 8 six-car trains were ordered which like the fourth order will have the body shells imported and fitted out at Alstom's Ballarat Workshops, the last sets in this order, comprising 209M-1405T-210M and 211M-1406T-212M, were put into service on 16 October 2015.

Carriages from these sets onwards have had a number of seats removed from the front of the motor carriages to improve comfort and capacity, creating dedicated space for passengers using mobility scooters and further preventing congregation in the doorways.

Sixth and seventh orders
In March 2015, a further 5 six-car trains were ordered, followed in May 2016 by another 5 sets.

Additional horizontal handrails have been fitted around the walls in the front and rear carriages as well as the re-locating of the emergency assistance intercom.

The final set comprising this order, set 251M-1426T-252M, entered service on 19th December 2017.

Eighth order
In September 2016, the Victorian Government placed an order for 9 six-car trains.

At the time of this order, the Victorian Government committed to purchasing 65 High Capacity Metro Trains of a different type which are currently being constructed.

Ninth Order
In May 2018, the Victorian Government placed a final order for 5 six-car trains.

These trains form the 2.0 version of the X'Trapolis 100 using additional local content in manufacturing the units.

This final order will continue the X'Trapolis 100 production line in Victoria until 2020.

Motor carriage numbers from this order will resume from 967M, following on from the numbering of the earliest X'Trapolis sets delivered in 2004. This is due to X'Trapolis 100 trains being unable to exceed motor carriage number 299M, as some older Melbourne Comeng trains are currently numbered from 300M onwards.

Refurbishment
As part of its 2009 franchise agreement, Metro Trains Melbourne was required to modify the 3+2 seating layout in all original X'Trapolis 100s to have 2+2 seating, providing efficiency in passenger flow and more standing room.

Later orders of X'Trapolis 100s were delivered with this modified layout. Passengers on the Lilydale/Belgrave Line refer to trains made of these cars as the 'Kosky Express' in reference to the late Lynne Kosky MLA whose indifference to the needs of the eastern suburb's populace resulted in less seats for the 40km trip into Melbourne by train.

Mechanics
Mechanically, these trains are very different from the previous generation Melbourne trains. The X'Trapolis 100 was the first EMU in Melbourne to have computer-controlled traction, braking and safety systems. A continuous electrical circuit runs along the length of the train, which, when energised allows the train's emergency brakes to release. The circuit will be de-energised by a number of events, such as the driver releasing a vigilance control, applying an emergency brake or passing a signal at stop. This will cause the train to apply all brakes.

Incidents
On September 26 2009, 872M crashed into a car between Croydon and Mooroolbark, derailed on impact and destroyed an overhead power stanchion. The Ford Fairmont had crashed down the embankment onto the tracks and was abandoned prior to the train collision.

On May 12 2010, an almost brand new 9M overran a siding in Ringwood, derailing and crashing into the siding fence. The train had entered service less than a month prior.

On March 24 2011, 920M overran the dead-end platform at Macleod, crashing into the fence at the end of the platform. Prior to the accident, the platform had recently been washed and the soapy water had ended up on the tracks causing a complete loss of friction. Additionally, it was found that the end-of-line baulks (two wooden sleepers placed across the rails in lieu of a buffer stop) were also defective; the train wheels simply pushed them along the rails.

On the morning of 11 November 2015, an individual later identified as a then Metro employee gained access to the cabin of an X'Trapolis 100 6-car set stored at the depot of Hurstbridge station and drove it into a derail block, causing it to be derailed. 927M received the most damage in the incident from ploughing into an adjacent X'Trapolis set, whilst other carriages and track equipment were damaged. All carriages are expected to be back in revenue service after being repaired.

On 6 February 2016, 9M derailed its trailer car (1305T) just before Rushall station city-bound, where the track is a very tight 30 km/h bend. The South Morang line was partially suspended while the car was placed back onto tracks.

Valparaíso
Valparaíso has had an interurban passenger train system since the 19th century, but it could not be called a metro due to an infrequent train service and other shortcomings. In 1999 construction began on the current system, tearing down the old stations and building new ones with a homologous design. In Viña del Mar, a tunnel more than five kilometres in length was constructed. The new trains, specially made for the new system, arrived in Chile on 22 February 2005 and the old system was decommissioned on 30 June 2005.