M-Train

This article is about the former Australian railway company. For the Finnish M-Line railway, see Helsinki commuter rail. For the former Berlin Maglev, see M-Bahn. For the MTR rolling stocks, see MTR M-Train EMU. For the New York City Subway service, see M (New York City Subway service).
Industry Railway operator
Predecessor Public Transport Corporation (as Bayside Trains)
Successor Connex Melbourne
Founded September 1999
Defunct 18 April 2004
Headquarters Melbourne
Area served
 Melbourne
Parent National Express

M>Train was a former train operator in Melbourne It operated from September 1999 until it ceased operation at on 18 April 2004, with its services passing to Connex Melbourne.

History

Victoria's train and tram networks were privatised in 1999 under the Kennett State Government. The suburban train network was divided in two, and National Express won the Bayside Trains franchise, along with the Swanston Trams and V/Line regional passenger franchises.[1][2][3]

In October 2001, National Express rebranded Bayside Trains as M>Train, with Swanston Trams rebranded as M>Tram.[4]

In December 2002 National Express handed in its Victorian rail and tram franchises having been unable to renegotiate financial terms with the State Government.[5][6]

The State Government took control temporarily,[7] until M>Train was taken over by Connex on 18 April 2004.[8]

Operations

Siemens train in a trial M>Train livery

M>Train operated the suburban rail services in the western, north-western, south-eastern, and southern suburbs running though North Melbourne and South Yarra stations. These were the Werribee, Williamstown, Sydenham (now Sunbury), Broadmeadows (now Craigieburn), Upfield, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston, Sandringham and Stony Point lines, in addition to maintaining the three underground City Loop stations.

As required by its franchise contract, M>Train had its Comeng rolling stock refurbished by EDi Rail, and ordered 62 three-car Siemens trains, built in Vienna, Austria to replace the ageing Hitachi trains.

Until November 2003 M>Train also issued their own annual railway tickets, running in parallel and sold at a discount to those Metcard system, but only permitting travel on their half of the network.[9]

References

  1. ↑ National Express Group Awarded Three Franchises National Express corporate news June 1999
  2. ↑ National Express takes root in Melbourne Railway Gazette 1 October 2000
  3. ↑ "ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 - now". ARHS Railway Museum. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  4. ↑ "National Express - Review of Operations - Australia". www.investis.com. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  5. ↑ National Express walks out of Australian rail service The Telegraph (London) 17 December 2002
  6. ↑ Nat Express pull back Down Under The Telegraph (London) 3 September 2004
  7. ↑ Richard Web (14 March 2004). "The long goodbye". The Age. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  8. ↑ Selma Milovanovic, Rachel Wells (17 April 2004). "Down Frankston way it's a popular line". The Age. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  9. ↑ "Related AFC tickets - M>Train Yearly Ticket". www.robx1.net. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
Preceded by
Public Transport Corporation
(as Bayside Trains)		 Railways in Melbourne
Caufield & Northern groups
1999-2002 		Succeeded by
State Government
then Connex Melbourne
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