The X'Trapolis 100 is a type of single deck electric multiple unit part of Alstom's X'Trapolis family of trains, operated in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Valparaíso, Chile.
Melbourne
In service
As a partner of the Melbourne Transport Enterprises consortium, which was the new operator of the Hillside Trains network (later Connex Melbourne), it was announced in 1999 that Alstom would supply and deliver new trains to the Hillside Trains network.
When the trains were originally introduced to the suburban network in 2002, the trains operated only on the former Hillside Trains network (consisting of the Burnley and Clifton Hill group lines), and did not run revenue services elsewhere operated by M>Train on the Bayside Trains half of the system. Although the two networks merged in 2004, when Connex took over all operations, the X'trapolis units still did not operate on the Bayside system at the time.
On 22 October 2014, the operation of X'Trapolis 100 trains was expanded to include lines on the former Bayside Trains network with the Frankston line being cleared for their operation and initially running two weekday morning-peak services.
On 20 November 2016, X'Trapolis 100 trains were expanded to full-time running on the Frankston line and began operating services on the Werribee and Williamstown lines the same day.
In November 2018, X'Trapolis 100 trains’ operations were expanded to the Flemington Racecourse line.
X'Trapolis 100 trains had run on the Burnley, Clifton Hill and Cross-City groups, with all services operating with 6-car trains throughout the day except the Alamein (Camberwell - Alamein) and Williamstown (Newport - Williamstown) shuttles which runs with 3-car trains during shuttle operations off-peak and on weekends. The trains also serve the Flemington Racecourse line when services operate there, operating to both Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse stations. However, the Flemington Racecourse Line only runs on special occasions.
Although Melbourne's trains operate as either one or two three-car units, it was not until September 2007 that the X'Trapolis 100s were permitted to operate as single-units in revenue service.
The trains have power-operated doors that open when a button on the door is pressed and are closed by the driver or closed automatically after approximately ten seconds.
The X'Trapolis 100s and the HCMT are currently the only suburban trains in Melbourne with external destination displays on the sides of the carriages with this feature also seen on the diesel powered Sprinter and VLocity rail motors.
Several trains were given names: Croydon West (primary school that won a naming contest), Don Corrie (deceased railway employee), Flash, Flinders Flyer, Iramoo (primary school that won a naming contest), Melbourne Rocks and Westernport. X'Trapolis 100 863M-1632T-864M-897M-1649T-898M was the first Melbourne train to receive the new ‘Metro’ livery in November 2009, in preparation for the launch of the new suburban operator. When the Connex livery was retired in place of the current Metro design, the Iramoo name (shown on units 851M and 852M) was erroneously written as Imaroo. This spelling was changed a little over a decade later.
Refurbishment
As part of its 2009 franchise agreement, Metro Trains Melbourne was required to modify the 3+2 seating layout in all original X'Trapolis 100s to have 2+2 seating, providing efficiency in passenger flow and more standing room. Later orders of X'Trapolis 100s were delivered with this modified layout.Trains are working better but seating not guaranteed The Age 7 November 2014
All cars prior to the sixth batch sets underwent an additional interior refurbishment program starting from 2017, similar to the refurbishment that the Siemens Nexas had recently completed. All X'Trapolis sets comprising the first–fifth orders had a number of seats removed at the ends of the motor cars to create dedicated spaces for passengers using wheelchairs and also provide standing room for additional passengers, thus increasing overall capacity, accessibility and passenger flow of each motor carriage. Additional handrails and emergency assistance intercoms were also installed in accordance to the same interior design of the motor cars since the sixth batch.
Mechanics
Mechanically, these trains are very different from the previous generation Melbourne trains. The X'Trapolis 100 was the first EMU in Melbourne to have computer-controlled traction, braking and safety systems. A continuous electrical circuit runs along the length of the train which, when energised, allows the train's emergency brakes to release. The circuit will be de-energised by a number of events, such as the driver releasing a vigilance control, applying an emergency brake or passing a signal at stop. This will cause the train to apply all brakes.
Incidents
On 9 December 2004, 882M overran the platform at Belgrave and crashed into the fence at the end of the line.
On 26 September 2009, 872M crashed into a car between Croydon and Mooroolbark, derailed on impact and destroyed an overhead power stanchion. The Ford Fairmont had crashed down the embankment onto the tracks and was abandoned prior to the train collision. Coincidentally, on 3 January 2013, a Hitachi train derailed in the same location on the city-bound line due to rails buckling in hot weather.
On 12 May 2010, an almost brand new 9M overran a siding in Ringwood, derailing and crashing into the siding fence. The train had entered service less than a month prior.
On 24 March 2011, 920M overran the dead-end platform at Macleod, crashing into the fence at the end of the platform. Prior to the accident, the platform had recently been washed and the soapy water had ended up on the tracks causing a complete loss of friction. Additionally, it was found that the end-of-line baulks (two wooden sleepers placed across the rails in lieu of a buffer stop) were also defective; the train wheels simply pushed them along the rails.
On the morning of 11 November 2015, an individual later identified as a then Metro employee gained access to the cabin of an X'Trapolis 100 six-car set stored at the depot of Hurstbridge station and drove it into a derail block, causing it to be derailed. 927M received the most damage in the incident from ploughing into an adjacent X'Trapolis set, whilst other carriages and track equipment were damaged. All carriages are expected to be back in revenue service after being repaired.Train stolen and derailed, in 'severe act of vandalism' at a Melbourne station ABC News 11 November 2015Hurstbridge derailing: Keys used to steal train 'could have been bought online' The Age 11 November 2015
On 6 February 2016, 1305T, led by 9M, derailed just before Rushall station city-bound,Train derails at Rushall Station on Melbourne's South Morang line ABC News 6 February 2016 where the track is on a very tight bend. The South Morang line was partially suspended while the carriage was placed back onto tracks.
On 9 November 2018, a Lilydale-bound service, led by 959M, uncoupled in running shortly after departing Croydon station, splitting into two three-car units, with the trailing unit coming to a stop under emergency braking. The subsequent investigation found that a wiring error during a modification to the train's low-note whistle on 959M, combined with a deterioration of insulation resistance in the uncouple solenoid connector of 882M (the leading carriage of the trailing unit), resulted in an error circuit forming which resulted in the unintended coupling.
On 12 August 2021, X'Trapolis set 871M-1636T-872M collided with a semi-trailer truck at the High Street Road level crossing near station before 8am, causing damage to the train only. Substantial damage was caused to the overhead structure by the truck, and the front bogie of the train derailed. After recovery efforts, the set was then taken to Epping Workshops.
On 13 July 2025, X'Trapolis trailer carriage 1627T derailed at a curve on a bridge over a road just north of Clifton Hill station; none of the approximately 30 passengers onboard the train or the train crew were injured, although the derailment damaged trackside infrastructure and forced a days long closure of the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines. Investigations found that as the train was passing through the curve, the leading left wheels of 1627T climbed over the adjacent rail before the carriage collided with a stanchion supporting overhead wires delivering power to the train. The rails the train derailed on were laid during trackwork several days before the incident (8 and 9 July), along with the replacement of sleepers and ballast, although a cause for the incident has not been identified.
+OrderSetsOrderedFirst EnteredLast EnteredNoteFirst582000 by ConnexDecember 2002December 2004To fulfil a franchise commitment to replace its fleet of ageing Hitachi trains. The first ten units were completely assembled at Alstom's La Rochelle factory in France. However, since the eleventh unit, only the body shells were assembled at La Rochelle, with the rest of the train being assembled in Victoria at Alstom's Ballarat facility.
The first set ran a special trip from Flinders Street to South Kensington and back to mark the event.
The trains differ from earlier trains on the Melbourne network in the following ways: Doors open when button pressed Sliding doors between carriages 1 pantograph per three-car trainSecond & Third38 (Total)July 2007 by Victorian GovernmentDecember 2009April 2012In July 2007 the Government of Victoria announced that Alstom was one of two companies invited to bid to build 10 new six-car trains for the existing network. Siemens Transportation Systems was the other company, and both were limited to supplying trains that were the same as those already supplied to Melbourne. The Department of Infrastructure found that the new trains delivered less than one additional peak-hour service across the entire network, and had initially lobbied the Government to buy 20 six-car trains.
In October 2007 the tender was extended to 18 six-car trains, to be delivered by 2010.
The tender was awarded to Alstom in December 2007 and the trains were delivered in a staged roll-out from late 2009.
In February 2009 an additional order was placed, with 20 more six-car trains added, taking the total to 38 trains.
The first of 19 trains that were built by Alstom in Italy were loaded onto a ship in July 2009, with the first set arriving at Newport Workshops on 24 August 2009. The remaining 19 trains were assembled at United Group's Ballarat plant, under a state government requirement for a minimum of 40% local content.X'Trapolis Vicsig
The new trains were originally used in revenue service on lines already cleared for their operation, with some Comeng trains on these lines being cascaded across to the other side of the network.
By late September the new units, numbered 1M-1301T-2M and 3M-1302T-4M, were moved into the open at the Newport Workshops and had been taken out on test runs without any livery applied. By October the train had received carriage numbers and names, with compatibility testing being carried out with a modified member of the existing fleet. By December 2009 the first set had received the Metro Trains Melbourne livery, and was running stopping-all-stations test runs without passengers on the Epping line.
The second train to be imported was taken to Ballarat immediately after arrival due to floor damage, with Alstom and United Group Rail spending two months making repairs. This train was transferred to Melbourne on 28 February.