The Interurban multiple units (IMU) are a class of

electric multiple units An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number ...

manufactured by

Walkers Limited Walkers Limited was an Australian engineering and shipbuilding company based in Maryborough, Queensland. It built large vessels and railway locomotives. The Walkers factory still produces locomotives and rolling stock as part of Downer Rail. ...

/ Downer EDI Rail, Maryborough for

Queensland Rail Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Queensland Rail is owned by the Queensland Government, and operates both Commuter rail, suburban and Regional rail, interurban rail services in South East Queensland, as well ...

's Citytrain division between 1996 and 2011. The IMU is divided into in three subclasses, units 101-110 as the 100 series, units 121-124 as the 120 series, and units 161-188, as the 160 series.

Design

The Interurban Multiple Units are a long-distance optimised version of the Suburban Multiple Units. Internally, the IMUs differ from the SMUs, being fitted with larger seats, luggage racks and mobility-access toilets. Like most trains in the Citytrain fleet, two three-car IMUs can be coupled to form one six-car unit.

History

100 series

To provide rolling stock for the new Gold Coast line to Helensvale, in 1993 a contract for four 100 class units was awarded to

, Maryborough. The 100 were manufactured by

, Maryborough in partnership with

ABB ABB Group is a Swedish-Swiss multinational electrical engineering corporation. Incorporated in Switzerland as ABB Ltd., and headquartered in Zurich, it is dual-listed on the Nasdaq Nordic exchange in Stockholm, Sweden, and the SIX Swiss Excha ...

. The first four IMU100s, 101 to 104 entered service in 1996 before the opening of the new line. As these were never going to be adequate to operate all services on the line, in July 1995 a further six were ordered. They were delivered in 1997. They feature luggage racks, disabled access toilets, and high-backed cloth seating. IMU 105 still retains the green ocean themed seating moquette, which has been replaced in all other units. IMU122123

120 series

In 1999, four 120 series units were ordered for the Airtrain line to

Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is an international airport serving Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland. The airport services 31 airlines flying to 50 domestic and 29 international destinations, total amounting to more than 22.7 mill ...

. They entered service in 2001, fitted with high-backed seats with a head cushion as an extension as the seat design is based on the SMU 220s, one toilet per unit and luggage racks in different configurations due to the interior design differences to its predecessor. The 100 series and 120 series are interoperable, and used to operate together in revenue service as six-car units, but no longer do so due to electrical and mechanical differences. The 120 series were the final batch of trains manufactured by

before being absorbed by Downer Group, Maryborough in partnership with

ADtranz Adtranz was a multi-national rail transportation equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the US. The company, legally known as ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation, was created in 1996 as a joint venture between ABB and Daim ...

, which was likewise taken over by Bombardier.

160 series

In 2004, Queensland Rail ordered sixteen 160 series units to provide extra rolling stock in conjunction with the upgrade and duplication of the Gold Coast line. The 160 series were manufactured by Downer EDI Rail, Maryborough in partnership with

Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation was a Canadian rolling stock and rail transport manufacturer, with headquarters in Toronto and Berlin. It was one of the world's largest companies in the rail vehicle and equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. ...

. These trains are similar in design to the Transperth B-series EMU, V/Line VLocity DMU, and Adelaide Metro 4000 class EMU trains with alterations to the headlights to complement with the rest of the Citytrain fleet. These trains are interoperable with the 260 series Suburban Multiple Units as they have almost identical specifications. In early 2007, during safety checks, it was discovered that air-conditioning units on the trains were 10 millimetres too wide for the

loading gauge A loading gauge is a diagram or physical structure that defines the maximum height and width dimensions in railway vehicles and their loads. Their purpose is to ensure that rail vehicles can pass safely through tunnels and under bridges, and k ...

. On 28 May 2007, the first of the new IMUs entered service on the Gold Coast line.

Refurbishment

The IMU160s are undergoing a major redesign, commencing from the 2023–2024 Financial year. Eight units have already been completed under this scheme with new vinyl flooring, better Wi-Fi, and the driver B carriage having mostly sideways seating.

Gallery

File:Queensland Rail IMU100 Transverse Seating.jpg, Refurbished IMU 100 interior File:Queensland Rail IMU120 Transverse Seating.jpg, Refurbished IMU 120 interior

Derailments

On 31 January 2013, IMU173 derailed at Cleveland station and ran into the station's toilet block, injuring 14. Only minor injuries were reported. The damaged car IM5173 was eventually repaired and returned to service.

Notes

References

External links

QR awards multi-million-dollar Citytrain contractQRIG.org Motive Power SectionInterurban Multiple Unit (IMU100) Queensland RailInterurban Multiple Unit (IMU120) Queensland RailInterurban Multiple Unit (IMU160) Queensland RailSpecifications (100 series)Specifications (120 series)
{{QueenslandLocos, state=collapsed Electric multiple units of Queensland Queensland Rail City network Train-related introductions in 1996 25 kV AC multiple units Bombardier Transportation multiple units Walkers Limited multiple units