Comeng (train)

Comeng
Alstom-Refurbished Comeng 571M on a Werribee-bound service near Westona station, November 2023
Interior of an Alstom-Refurbished Comeng with life extension upgrades
Stock type	Electric Multiple Unit
In service	28 September 1981 – present
Manufacturer	Commonwealth Engineering
Built at	Dandenong, Victoria
Replaced	Tait Harris
Constructed	1981–1988
Refurbished	Alstom & EDi Rail (2000–2003) UGL Rail (2017–2021)
Scrapped	2021–present
Number built	570 carriages (190 sets)
Number in service	345 carriages (115 sets)
Number scrapped	224 carriages
Successor	High Capacity Metro Train X'Trapolis 2.0
Formation	3-car sets (M–T–M)
Fleet numbers	301M–468M, 471M–554M, 561M–680M, 691M–698M 1001T–1084T, 1086T–1127T, 1131T–1190T, 1196T–1199T
Capacity	210 seated, 765 crush load per 3-car unit
Operators	Metro Trains Melbourne (2009–present) Previous: VicRail (1981–1983) The Met/MTA (1983–1989) The Met/PTC (1989–1999) M>Train (1999–2004) Connex (1999–2009)
Depots	All Metro Trains depots[specify]
Lines served	Craigieburn Upfield Sunbury Frankston Werribee Williamstown Flemington Racecourse Sandringham
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Train length	71.2 m (233 ft 7+1⁄8 in)
Car length	24 m (78 ft 8+7⁄8 in) (motor carriages) 23.2 m (76 ft 1+3⁄8 in) (trailer carriages)
Width	3.05 m (10 ft 1⁄16 in)
Height	3,835 mm (12 ft 7 in)
Doors	3 per side
Maximum speed	115 km/h (71 mph)
Weight	141 t (139 long tons; 155 short tons) (max)
Traction system	Resistance control (301M–468M, 471M–554M, 561M–680M) Chopper control (691M–698M)
Traction motors	8 × GEC G317AZ 124 kW (166 hp) (continuous) series-wound DC motor
Power output	992 kW (1,330 hp) (continuous)
Acceleration	0.8 m/s2 (2.6 ft/s2)
Deceleration	0.85 m/s2 (2.8 ft/s2) (service) 0.95 m/s2 (3.1 ft/s2) (emergency)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC (nominal) from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Bogies	Bradford Kendall B.K.12390 (tread brake, motor cars) Bradford Kendall B.K.12391 (tread brake, trailer cars) Linke-Hofmann-Busch (disc brake) Alstom (disc brake replacement)
Braking system(s)	Electro-pneumatic and rheostatic Westinghouse Westcode tread brakes (first order) Knorr-Bremse disc brakes (second order)
Coupling system	Scharfenberg
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
Notes/references
[1][2][3]

The Comeng (/ˈkɒmɛndʒ/ KOM-enj) is a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) operating on the suburban railway network of Melbourne. Built by their namesake Commonwealth Engineering (abbreviated as Comeng), the trains were introduced in 1981 as a replacement for the Tait and Harris trains. In total, 190 three-car trainsets were built, although only 115 remain in service and are expected to be retired by 2030.

The fleet underwent two major refurbishments. The first, a mid-life refurbishment, was carried out from 2000 to 2003 by Alstom and EDi Rail. The second, named the Comeng Life Extension Project, completed between 2017 and 2021, aimed to extend the trains' lifespan to meet their gradual replacement by the High Capacity Metro Trains and the X'Trapolis 2.0 trains. Alongside these upgrades, a number of minor improvement programs were also conducted on the trains to further enhance their efficiency, safety, and reliability.