N type carriages

The N type carriages were built as intercity passenger carriages used on the Victorian Railways and its successor V/Line. They were introduced between 1981 and 1984 as part of the 'New Deal' reforms of country passenger rail services.

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In 1977, an order was placed for 30 N type carriages (10 sets) for use on the Geelong line, with six cars added to the order in 1978 for the Ballarat line, due to a by-election in that city. The cars were built between 1981 and 1984, based upon the structural design of the Victorian Railways Z type carriages built between 1956 and 1960 and with the benefit of thirty years of construction and design experience. The N type carriages were the first cars to be built at Newport Workshops in over 20 years, taking around 20 weeks to complete.

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N type carriages are individually numbered in the 1 to 57 series. Sets were issued to traffic with three types of carriage:

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• ACN first class (2+2 seating, recline and rotate) with conductors van, 52 seats

• BRN economy class (2+3 seating, fixed) with snack bar, 67 seats

• BN economy class (2+3 seating, fixed), 88 seats.

 

All carriages were to be formed into semi-fixed 3, 4 or eventually 5-car sets, with schedules built around standard consists to keep runs fast and simple. 

 

N type carriages until their replacement by Velocity rail cars were the mainstay of services to Warrnambool, Shepparton, Geelong, Ballarat, Swan Hill, Albury, Bairnsdale and Bendigo. As well as more historic services such as Horsham, Mildura and Cobram.

 

N type carriages over their life have run on both broad and standard gauges.

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Seven-0-Seven Operations fleet of N type carriages are currently on standard gauge and feature on our Vinelander slow rail journeys.

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