QUEENSLAND Railways signed an accord on September 2 with Evans Deakin Industries for the development of two diesel-powered tilting trainsets for its coastal main line between Brisbane and Cairns. The trains will be built by EDI subsidiary Walkers Ltd of Maryborough, which supplied two six-car electric tilting trains due to enter service between Brisbane and Rockhampton this month.

According to the state’s Transport & Roads Minister Steve Bredhauer, the development package is worth A$122m. Like their electric counterparts, the 10-car diesel trainsets will be designed to operate at 160 km/h on QR’s 1067mm gauge network. Because of the length of the 1680 km journey from Brisbane to Cairns, the diesel sets will incorporate sleeping cars as well as seats coaches. o

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