M-Train
 |
|
| Industry | Public transport |
|---|---|
| Fate | Parent company withdrawal |
| Successor(s) | Connex Melbourne |
| Founded | Bayside Trains Sept 1999 M>Train Oct 2001 |
| Defunct | 18 April 2004 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia |
| Key people | Craig Wallace, CEO |
| Products | Transport services |
| Employees | 1589[1] |
| Parent | National Express Group |
M>Train is a former operator of half of Melbourne's suburban railway network. It operated from 2001 until it ceased operation at 3:00am on 18 April 2004, with Connex Melbourne then taking over all rail operations.
Contents |
[edit] History
Victoria's train and tram networks were privatised in 1999 under the Jeff Kennett government. The suburban train network was divided in two, and National Express Group won the Bayside Trains franchise (along with the Swanston Trams and V/Line regional passenger franchises).[2]
In October 2001, National Express renamed Bayside Trains to M>Train (as well as rebranding Swanston Trams as M>Tram. The two "M>" business used near-identical, complementing branding, including colour scheme, and the same "Moving Melbourne" banner or motto.[3]
On 22 December 2002 National Express withdrew from their operations in Victoria and the State Government took control temporarily,[4] until M>Train was taken over by Connex on 18 April 2004.[5] The V/Line passenger franchise remains under reverted government control.
[edit] Operations
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, Broadmeadows (now Craigieburn), Upfield, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston, Sandringham and Stony Point lines, in addition to maintaining the three underground City Loop stations.
While operating the franchise and under contractual obligations with the State Government, M>Train refurbished its Comeng rolling stock through EDi Rail, and ordered 62 three-car Siemens trains, built in Germany, to replace the ageing Hitachi trains.
Until November 2003 M>Train also issued their own yearly railway tickets, running in parallel and sold at a discount to those Metcard system, but only permitting travel on their half of the network.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "National Express Group PLC awarded 3 franchises in Australia". National Express Group. 1999-06-25. http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/releases/pr1999/pressrelease/?id=3311039. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- ^ "ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 - now". ARHS Railway Museum. http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history3.html. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "National Express - Review of Operations - Australia". www.investis.com. http://www.investis.com/nx/downloads/report2001/australia.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
- ^ Richard Web (14 March 2004). "The long goodbye". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/13/1078594612786.html. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- ^ Selma Milovanovic, Rachel Wells (17 April 2004). "Down Frankston way it's a popular line". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/16/1082055646029.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
- ^ "Related AFC tickets - M>Train Yearly Ticket". www.robx1.net. http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/myear01.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
| Preceded by Public Transport Corporation (as Bayside Trains) |
Railways in Melbourne Caufield and Northern groups 1999-2002 |
Succeeded by State Government receivership, then Connex Melbourne |
