The first of 246 new C-series railcars has rolled off the assembly line and is now undergoing initial testing at the newly completed High Voltage Testing and Commissioning Facility. 

The Facility in Bellevue enables the initial static testing and commissioning of the new C-series railcars, which are being manufactured and maintained by Alstom Australia under the METRONET WA Railcar Program. 

Completing this facility ensures all testing and commissioning of the railcars occurs in WA, removing the reliance on interstate or overseas suppliers while building capability locally. 

The facility’s assembly line setup allows for different components to be installed as each railcar moves through five workstations. Windows, doors, floors, and ceilings are among the first to be installed on each railcar, followed by the underframe and roof equipment.

The final touches on the new railcars including seating, passenger information systems and external livery are installed before each railcar undergoes testing and commissioning and a final inspection. The first few sets will undertake an extensive and rigourous design verification and validation process to ensure they are ready to take passengers safely. 

The six-car C-series trains will start to be delivered this year as part of a 10-year contract and undergo significant verification, and validation testing before passenger services begin in 2023. 

In addition to the 246 new C-series railcars, six new Australind railcars are also being built and are scheduled for delivery in 2024. 

The manufacturing of these railcars is providing more than 200 long-term jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs and local business opportunities.