3000 and 3100 class railcars
Adelaide Metro 3000 Class railcars going through Womma on a GAW service from Adelaide Railway Station, August 2023
Interior of a refurbished unit
Stock type	Diesel Multiple Unit
In service	1987 - present
Manufacturer	Comeng, Clyde Engineering
Built at	Dandenong and Somerton, Victoria
Replaced	Redhen railcars
Entered service	1987–1996
Refurbished	2018
Number built	70
Number in service	3005-3007, 3009-3011, 3015-3029,3030, 3113-3140
Number retired	2 (3101 and 3102; accidental damage)
Formation	Single unit (3000) Married pair (3100)
Fleet numbers	3001–3030 3101–3140
Capacity	100 (3000) 110 (3100)
Operators	State Transport Authority 1987 - 1994 TransAdelaide 1994 - 2010 Adelaide Metro 2010 - present
Depots	Dry Creek Belair
Lines served	Outer Harbor Grange Belair Port Dock
Specifications
Car length	25.77 m (84 ft 7 in)
Width	3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
Height	4.27 m (14 ft 0 in)
Maximum speed	130 km/h (81 mph) (design) 90 km/h (56 mph) (service)
Weight	48 t (47 long tons; 53 short tons) (3000) 46 t (45 long tons; 51 short tons) (3100)
Traction system	After repowering: ABB BORDLINE CC400 DE IGBT power converter[1]
Prime mover(s)	As built: Strömberg After repowering: Mercedes-Benz OM502LA v8
Traction motors	2 × 130 kW (170 hp) ABB/Stromberg HXR315SC4B7E / HXUR/E632G2B7
Power output	780 kW (1,050 hp) (3000) 1,560 kW (2,092 hp) (3100)
Transmission	Diesel-electric
UIC classification	(1A)2′ (3000) (1A)2′+2′(A1) (3100)
Braking system(s)	Knorr-Bremse
Coupling system	Scharfenberg
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

The 3000 class and 3100 class are a class of diesel railcars that operate on the Adelaide rail network. Built by Comeng and Clyde Engineering between 1987 and 1996, they entered service under the State Transport Authority before later being operated by TransAdelaide and Adelaide Metro. Trains are typically coupled as multiple units, though the 3000 class are also able to run as single units when needed. In total, 70 railcars were built and are expected to be retired between 2030 and 2032. ^[2]

The fleet underwent 3 major refurbishments. The first, an exterior refurbishment, was carried out between 2000 and 2010. The second, a life extension project was completed between 2018 and 2020, aimed to extend the trains' lifespan. A third and final refurbishment, a hybrid conversion is being carried out on 50 of the 70 railcars to reduce fuel consumption on the fleet.^[3]

In March 1985, the State Transport Authority (STA) awarded a tender for 20 diesel railcars (eight 3000 class units with a cab at each end and twelve 3100 class with a cab at one end only) to Comeng's Dandenong rolling stock factory.^[4][5][6] The design was based on the stainless steel shell of the Comeng electric train then in production for Melbourne's Public Transport Corporation, but 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in) longer and with only two doors per side. Because of a contractual requirement to maximise local content, the fit-out was conducted at Comeng's Dry Creek facility. The first commenced testing in May 1987, entering service in November 1987.^[7][8] The eight 3000s were built first with the first 3100 class completed in mid-1988.^[9][10][11] The last entered service in December 1988.^[12]

In the original contract, there was an option to order 76 further examples. However, Comeng came back to the STA with a significantly higher price, so the work was put out to tender, and a contract for 50 was awarded to Clyde Engineering in November 1989.^[13] Comeng concluded a deal to sell the 3000 class design and tooling. However by the time construction commenced, Comeng had sold its Dandenong plant to ABB, who backed away from an agreement to hand over the jigs and tooling, so they were built between 1992 and 1996 by Clyde Engineering's Martin & King factory in Somerton, Victoria.^[11][14][15]

All were delivered with unpainted stainless steel offset by blue and orange stripes. In April 2002, the first was repainted by Bluebird Rail Operations in Adelaide Metro's yellow, blue and red.^[16]

Originally they operated on all Adelaide suburban lines, however since the electrification of the Seaford and Flinders lines in 2014 and Gawler line in 2022, they have been confined primarily to the Belair, Grange, and Outer Harbor lines along with the newly opened Port Dock line. They have on occasion ventured beyond the Adelaide metropolitan area, operating special services to Nuriootpa on the Barossa Valley line, Riverton on the Roseworthy-Peterborough line and Balaklava on the Hamley Bridge–Gladstone line. These tours stopped by the mid 2000s.^[17][18][19]

Only one of bogies is powered per car, originally with 2 Stromberg Electric Motors, which have now been replaced since the 2018 life extension.

The 3000 class bodies were built by Comeng and feature airbag secondary suspension. All 3000 class railcars are fitted with electro-magnetic track brakes, which are comparatively rare on trains, though they are commonly found on trams. These are operated separately from the normal mechanical and dynamic braking.

Trains are equipped with automatic Scharfenberg couplers which are operated from the driver's cab. Coupling operations are sometimes performed at Adelaide station, requiring an extra staff member to flag the driver as well as to connect the safety chains. This feature allows sets of up to six cars to be formed.

Two headlights are mounted at the top of the car in the centre on driver's cab ends. There are no marker lights at the front; however, there are red marker lights for the rear located on the upper corners. There are metal steps up the side of the car to each door, but they are not used by passengers, however in emergency situations, they may be used to allow passengers to disembark from the train. They are illuminated by lights at night. All cars are air-conditioned.

During May 2020, 50 out of 70 railcars were taken out of service on the Gawler, Belair and Outer Harbor rail lines due to a significant mechanical fault regarding the servicing of the cars. These trains were out of service for 2 weeks whilst servicing on the turbochargers and other defective parts were repaired/replaced, therefore, a decision was made by DPTI to shift all affected train services to a weekend timetable. The Seaford and Flinders lines were not affected due to electrification having been completed on those lines in early 2014. During these critical repairs, the Grange line was closed.

By 2024, 45 of the 70 railcars are in process of being converted into Hybrid trains with a new ABB traction battery technology to reduce noise and emissions to improve the travel experience.^[20]

In the 2008/09 State Budget, it was announced that five out of six of Adelaide's railway lines were to be electrified commencing with the Noarlunga and Gawler lines. This was to have resulted in 58 of the 3000/3100 class railcars being converted to electric operation with the remaining 12 to be retained as diesels for operation on the Belair line.^[21][22][23] However with the electrification project scaled back and the additional orders of the 4000 class trains, the conversions were cancelled.^[24]

Commencing in April 2018, all 3000/3100 series railcars began a life extension program which included new Mercedes-Benz engines, upgraded bogies, enhanced upholstery and a repaint into a red and blue livery similar to the 4000 class units.^[25] The modernised livery features silver borders around the headlights and tail lights to allow for better illumination throughout light hours.^[26]

Starting from May 2021, Adelaide Metro began to gradually refurbish the interior of 45 of its 3000/3100 class railcars.

The 2021 refurbishment includes:

• brighter lights.
• new wheelchair spaces to provide room for two wheelchairs.
• new floor materials designed for better graffiti cleaning, removal of existing graffiti, and deep interior cleaning.
• creation of five new "bike-friendly" railcars with realigned seating, to be used primarily on the Belair Line which is frequented by cyclists.^[27]

In addition to the interior refurbishment, 45 of Adelaide Metro's 70 railcars are expected to be fitted with ABB hybrid battery technology by mid-2024. This includes the installation of a new energy storage and recovery system, which stores kinetic energy in a battery during braking.^[28] This will reduce fuel consumption on the 3000/3100 class fleet, and reduce emissions, particularly at the enclosed Adelaide railway station, where 3000 class railcars are often left idling with their engine running when not in service.^[29] Adelaide Metro have previously indicated that following the completion of this project, and once 3000/3100 class railcars are no longer required on the Gawler line, non-upgraded railcars in the fleet will be retired, as only 45 railcars will be required for service. ^[30] As of 2024, only 3 Comeng built units remain in service as the Clyde ones are being progressively converted to Hybrid.

Table showing the status of the fleet, this may not reflect recent changes.^[31]

• Further information on the 3000 and 3100 series railcar, including several interior photographs

Media related to 3000 class railcars at Wikimedia Commons