ADK/ADB class diesel multiple unit

ADK/ADB class railcar
ADK 687 and another unit approaching Britomart near the end of their service in 2014.
In service	Australia: 1967-93, New Zealand: 1993-2014
Manufacturer	ADK: Commonwealth Engineering ADB: Western Australian Government Railways
Built at	ADK: Granville ADB: Midland Railway Workshops
Replaced	Australia: WAGR Dd class & carriages New Zealand: 56-foot carriages
Constructed	1967/68
Entered service	Australia: 1968 New Zealand: 1993
Refurbishment	2007
Number built	10 sets
Number in service	0 sets
Formation	Australia: ADK+ADB New Zealand: ADK+ADB+ADB+ADK (originally ADK+ADB)
Fleet numbers	ADK 681–ADK 690 ADB 771–ADB 780
Capacity	ADK: 74, ADB: 64
Operator(s)	Australia: Western Australian Government Railways, Westrail New Zealand: Tranz Metro, Transdev Auckland
Depot(s)	Australia: Claisebrook New Zealand: Westfield
Line(s) served	Australia: Armadale Fremantle Midland New Zealand: Eastern Line Southern Line Western Line
Specifications
Car body construction	ADK: 20.20 m (66 ft 3 in) ADB: 15.85 m (52 ft 0 in)
Train length	37.75 m (123 ft 10 in) per two-car unit
Car length	ADK: 21.09 m (69 ft 2 in) over couplers ADB: 16.66 m (54 ft 8 in) over couplers
Width	2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Height	3.92 m (12 ft 10 in)
Floor height	1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Entry	1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Doors	Air-operated sliding doors, 2 pairs each side (ADK), one pair each side (ADB), 0.915 m wide
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
Weight	ADK: 33.3 t (32.8 long tons; 36.7 short tons) ADB: 15.8 t (15.6 long tons; 17.4 short tons)
Prime mover(s)	2 x Cummins
Power output	ADK: 2 x 155 kW (208 hp), one engine per bogie
Transmission	Diesel-hydraulic
Auxiliaries	ADB: diesel alternator in former cab (one per four-car set)
Train heating	Heating only
UIC classification	1A-A1+2'2'
Braking system(s)	Electro-pneumatic
Coupling system	Australia: Norwegian coupling NZ: Kidney link & pin
Multiple working	Within class only
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The ADK class were a class of diesel multiple units that were last operated by Transdev Auckland on Auckland's suburban rail network. Originally built by Commonwealth Engineering and the Midland Railway Workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways in the late 1960s, all but one were sold in 1993 to New Zealand Rail, and are currently owned by Auckland Transport. The units were completely withdrawn from service on 8 December 2014, following completion of electrification of Auckland's network.

History

In 1967 and 1968 ten two-carriage stainless steel sets were manufactured for the Western Australian Government Railways. Each set consisted of an ADK power car manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering, and an ADB trailer built by the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops. The ADK cars were manufactured in Granville and railed via Melbourne and Adelaide requiring a change of bogies at each of these locations and again at Kalgoorlie.

Following the electrification of the Perth rail network they were rendered surplus and in 1993 all except ADK 689 were sold, along with the newer ADL/ADC class, to New Zealand Rail to replace 56-foot carriages on suburban trains in Auckland. In October 1993, prior to being privatised, New Zealand Rail sold the class to the Auckland Regional Council.

In 2004 the ARC funded an upgrade, which included refurbishment of the interiors, painting in the new MAXX blue colour scheme and mechanical improvements to extend their life by 10 years. After the upgrade they ran as four-car rather than two-car sets. All were refurbished except ADB 773 (in use at Lock 'n' Load paintball arena) and ADK 689 (which did not move to New Zealand). Westrail planned on converting ADK 689 to a self-propelled track inspection carriage, however this did not eventuate.

Unlike the ADL/ADC class and SA sets, the units have not been fitted with Electronic Train Protection (ETP) equipment, owing to their imminent replacement by the AM class. All are scheduled for withdrawal by late 2014.

As of 15 September 2014, all services on the Manukau Line are operated by the AM class. As a result of this, all ADK units were placed into warm storage. Services to Papakura formerly run by ADKs are now run by ADLs, also displaced from the Manukau Line. A farewell trip was run by the Railway Enthusiasts Society on 16 November 2014, running on every suburban line in Auckland. The units were completely withdrawn on 20 July 2015.

Status list

Key:	In service	On lease	Out of service	Preserved	Overhaul/Repair	Scrapped

Number	Introduced in NZ	Current status	Current livery	Notes
ADK 681	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue	(old photo)
ADK 682	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 683	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 684	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 685	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 686	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 687	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 688	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADK 689	-	Withdrawn	TransPerth red front	Stripped for parts.
ADK 690	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADB 771	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue	(old photo)
ADB 772	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADB 773		Withdrawn	TransPerth red front	At Lock 'n' Load paintball arena.
ADB 774	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADB 775	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADB 776	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADB 777	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue
ADB 773	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue	Originally ADB 778; paired with ADK 683
ADB 778	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue	Originally ADB 779; paired with ADK 688
ADB 780	July 1993	Withdrawn	MAXX Blue

ADK 688 & ADB 778 at Midland in December 1986  An unrefurbished ADK at Papakura in June 2005  Refurbished ADK 690 at Papakura in February 2007

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons