The InterCity Express (ICE) is a retired class of electric multiple unit manufactured by Walkers in Maryborough for Queensland Rail between 1988 and 1989. They were operated on the Spirit of Capricorn service until 2003 and the Sunshine Coast line service until 2021. They were retired from the Queensland Rail network in 2021.
History
Introduction To operate the Spirit of Capricorn between Brisbane and Rockhampton on the North Coast line that was in the process of being electrified, in 1987 Queensland Rail ordered 16 electric multiple unit carriages from Walkers.Electrification Continental Railway Journal issue 70 June 1987 p. 312. They were to be eight semi-permanently coupled pairs of a driving motor car (EMD) and a non-driving motor car (EMM) that were planned to operate as four-carriage sets.QR's Inter-City Electrics Transit Australia December 1988 pp. 251–255. Electrical equipment was provided by ASEA (later ABB). In 1988 an additional four trailer cars (EMT) were ordered to allow the sets to be built up to five or six carriages.EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 264 March 1988 page 348Further Interurban Trains, Transit Australia, March 1988, p. 53."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 607, May 1988, p. 36.
The first trials were conducted in May 1988, before the first entered service on Sunshine Coast line services from Brisbane to Nambour, operating in multiple with Electric Multiple Units."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, issue 610, August 1988, p. 69.ICE EMU Cars Sunshine Express issue 272 November 1988 p. 217.North Coast Speed-up Transit Australia November 1988 page 243 On 5 February 1989, they began to operate through to Gympie North.ICEs to Gympie Transit Australia February 1989 p. 41.Nambour - Gympie Electrification Commissioning Sunshine Express issue 277 April 1989 p. 396. On 3 July 1989, they began operating Spirit of Capricorn services to Rockhampton."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 622, August 1989, p. 194.Spirit of Capricorn Inauguration Sunshine Express issue 282 September 1989 pp. 130–132.
In 1998, the faster Electric Tilt Train replaced most Spirit of Capricorn services, with a Saturdays only service continuing. They briefly operated on the Gold Coast line following its extension to Nerang in May 1998 and Robina in November 1998."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 730, August 1998, p. 319."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 736, February 1999, p. 77. They were used on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line from January 2000 after the withdrawal of the Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor.QR ICE Set Controversy Railway Digest March 2000 p. 14."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 751, May 2000, p. 199.
In 2001, all were fitted with power-operated doors."In Brief", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 761, March 2001, p. 107. With the withdrawal of the remaining Spirit of Capricorn service from May 2003, they ceased operating north of Gympie North."Here & There", Bulletin, Australian Railway Historical Society, issue 786, April 2003, p. 157."News in brief", Railway Digest, July 2003, p. 11. The mid-2000s saw the sets retrofitted with ditch lights on top of the anticlimber.
Retirement All units were eventually replaced by the New Generation Rollingstock. In January 2019, the first unit was withdrawn."First Queensland New Generation Rollingstock EMU arrives in Brisbane, maintenance centre officially opened", Railway Digest, April 2016, p. 31.QR EMU withdrawals under way and ICE sets' demise commences Railway Digest March 2019 p. 18. In November 2021, the last unit was withdrawn. Since withdrawal, units 153 and 157 have been stored at North Ipswich Railway Workshops.
Fleet TypeClassificationNumberbuiltFleetnumbersDriving motor carEMD85151–5158Non-driving motor carEMM86151–6158TrailerEMT47151–7154
Each half-set numbered 151–158, comprised a semi-permanently coupled driving motor car (EMD) and a non-driving motor car (EMM) that could be built up to five or six carriages with the addition of trailer cars (EMT). In their later years they generally operated as five car sets. In November 1990 an eight car set was operated.ICE Sets Sunshine Express issue 288 March 1990 page 331
Nomenclature Driving motor cars 5155 and 5156 were named City of Brisbane and City of Rockhampton to mark the commencement of the Spirit of Capricorn service in July 1989.ICE Cars named Transit Australia September 1989 p. 203.
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