NZR ADK class

NZ ADK and ADB classes
A refurbished ADK set
Manufacturer	ADK: Commonwealth Engineering, New South Wales, Australia ADB: Westrail
Entered service	Australia: 1968 New Zealand: 1993
Number built	10 sets
Number in service	9 sets
Formation	ADK+ADB (runs as ADK+ADB+ADB+ADK in service)
Fleet numbers	ADK: 681 – 690 ADB: 771–780
Operator	Westrail on behalf of Transperth, Tranz Rail (Tranz Metro), Veolia Auckland
Line(s) served	Auckland suburban lines
Specifications
Width	2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Height	3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
Power output	155 kW (208 hp)
UIC classification	1A-A1+2'2'
Gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The ADK class consists of nine diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars each coupled to an ADB class trailer, operating on Auckland's suburban rail network. The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) owns these units, and they are operated by Veolia.

History

An unrefurbished ADK class unit waiting for its next duties at Papakura

These units were built for the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) in 1967-68. The ADK driving units were manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering, and the ADB trailer units were manufactured at the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops.

They were purchased along with the newer ADL/ADC class units by New Zealand Rail Limited in 1993 to replace suburban carriage trains then used in Auckland. Later that year, they were sold by NZR to the Auckland Regional Council. The units were credited with an increase in patronage in the Auckland system, but have a number of reliability problems due to their age.^[1]

In 2004 the ARC funded the upgrade of the entire class, which included refurbishment of the interiors of the units and the painting of the exterior in the new MAXX colour scheme. The upgrade also include mechanical improvements which would extend the useful life of these units by 10 years. After the upgrades were completed, ADK/ADB trains ran as permanent 4-car sets rather than the 2-car sets they ran as previously.^[2] All ADKs are refurbished, except ADB 773 (stored at Westfield) and ADK 689 (which never came to New Zealand).

Future

All ADK units have been scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2015^[3] at the end of the Auckland rail electrification project.

Specifications

• Width: 2.7 m^[4]
• Height: 3.8 m^[4]
• Length: 20.3 m (ADK), 15.9 m (ADB)^[4]
• Seating capacity: 134 (total): 70 (ADK) + 64 (ADB)^[4]
• Standing capacity: 72 (total): 50 (ADK) + 32 (ADB)^[4]
• Passenger doors: air-operated sliding doors, 2 pairs each side (ADK), one pair each side (ADB), 0.915 m wide^[4]
• Step height from rail level: 1.1 m^[4]
• Air conditioned: no

Class register

Key:	In service	Out of service	Auckland Transport service	Preserved	Overhaul	Scrapped

Number	Introduced	Current status	Current livery	Notes
ADK 681	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue	(old photo)
ADK 682	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue	(photo)
ADK 683	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue	(old photo)
ADK 684		In service	MAXX Blue
ADK 685	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADK 686	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADK 687	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADK 688	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADK 689	July 1993	Not in service	Trans Perth	Never shipped to New Zealand
ADK 690	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADB 771	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue	(old photo)
ADB 772		In service	MAXX Blue
ADB 773	July 1993	Not in service	Trans Perth	ADB 778 was renumbered to 773. Storage at Westfield, spare parts.
ADB 774		In service	MAXX Blue
ADB 775	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADB 776	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue
ADB 777		In service	MAXX Blue
ADB 778		In service	MAXX Blue	Renumbered ADB 773; paired with ADK 683
ADB 779		In service	MAXX Blue	Renumbered ADB 778; paired with ADK 688
ADB 780	July 1993	In service	MAXX Blue

See also

• NZR ADL class

References

1. ^ New Zealand Diesel and Electric Traction - Class ADL / ADK
2. ^ ARC Rail Newsletter 2
3. ^ "Electric trains: technical details". Auckland Transport Blog. http://transportblog.co.nz/2011/10/10/electric-trains-technical-details/. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Auckland Regional Council

• Parsons, David - New Zealand Railway Motive Power 2002