Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

At a second briefing for commuter association representatives on 4 February 2008, the train builder, Downer – EDI, sought commuter comments on a full size mock up of half of a double-deck carriage at its Clyde, NSW, factory.

While the new cars are basically a refinement of CityRail’s existing “Millenium” cars, minor improvements are proposed to a number of features. They include seat grab-handles, the flip-up seats for wheel-chair accommodation, the Passenger Emergency Intercom (PEI), Emergency Door Release (EDR), CCTV monitoring, “doors closing” warnings, handrails, hang-straps, emergency exit information, colour-coded seating, and glazing materials.

There was noticeable off-the-record discussion amongst passenger representatives as to whether the current disability legislation fairly balances the needs of the disabled, against the needs of the much larger number of ordinary travellers. This applies particularly to the design of the end compartments, where the need to accommodate wheel-chairs conflicts with the need to provide hand-holds for standing passengers.

The transmission of solar heat through the windows will be reduced to 35%, from 45% in the Millenium cars.

The half-carriage mock-up features an internal mirror wall at the “centre” of the car, to give the visual impression of a full-length interior. It also allows for the height of the external “station platform” to be varied, relative to the car floor height.