On paper, as per documentation issued by way of STN and Telegram, this is the last week for S sets operating in revenue service on Sector 3.  
As from Monday, 10 February, all S set Rosters in Sector 3 will have been changed from S to A set consist.  

Up to and including Friday, 7 February, the one remaining S set Roster operating is 174.  
However, with the much talked about retention of 192 cars, it is a possibility that S sets will still run in place of K or T set Rosters on Sector 3.  


- Scott.

Up to and including Friday, 7 February, the one remaining S set Roster operating is 174.
However, with the much talked about retention of 192 cars, it is a possibility that S sets will still run in place of K or T set Rosters on Sector 3.

Standby trains always offer interesting possibilities, given that they are often S or C Sets.

On paper, as per documentation issued by way of STN and Telegram, this is the last week for S sets operating in revenue service on Sector 3.
As from Monday, 10 February, all S set Rosters in Sector 3 will have been changed from S to A set consist.

Up to and including Friday, 7 February, the one remaining S set Roster operating is 174.
However, with the much talked about retention of 192 cars, it is a possibility that S sets will still run in place of K or T set Rosters on Sector 3.


- Scott.

Pardon my ignorance but from where to where does the S set on roster 174 go?

Pardon my ignorance but from where to where does the S set on roster 174 go?

Revenue Services for Roster 174 are as follows:-

Empty from Hornsby Car Sidings.

0701 hours Hornsby to Central (via Shore Line)
0749 hours Central to Blacktown
0841 hours Blacktown to Central
0932 hours Central to North Sydney
0959 hours North Sydney to Central
1013 hours Central to Emu Plains

The train then proceeds Empty to Seven Hills and back to Blacktown to await the Afternoon Peak.

1607 hours Blacktown to Central
1702 hours Central to Hornsby (via Shore Line)
1808 hours Hornsby to Central (via Shore Line)
1858 hours Central to Blacktown

Returns Empty to Hornsby Car Sidings.


- Scott.

Revenue Services for Roster 174 are as follows:-

Empty from Hornsby Car Sidings.

0701 hours Hornsby to Central (via Shore Line)
0749 hours Central to Blacktown
0841 hours Blacktown to Central
0932 hours Central to North Sydney
0959 hours North Sydney to Central
1013 hours Central to Emu Plains

The train then proceeds Empty to Seven Hills and back to Blacktown to await the Afternoon Peak.

1607 hours Blacktown to Central
1702 hours Central to Hornsby (via Shore Line)
1808 hours Hornsby to Central (via Shore Line)
1858 hours Central to Blacktown

Returns Empty to Hornsby Car Sidings.


- Scott.

Thanks a lot.

On paper, as per documentation issued by way of STN and Telegram, this is the last week for S sets operating in revenue service on Sector 3.
As from Monday, 10 February, all S set Rosters in Sector 3 will have been changed from S to A set consist.

Up to and including Friday, 7 February, the one remaining S set Roster operating is 174.
However, with the much talked about retention of 192 cars, it is a possibility that S sets will still run in place of K or T set Rosters on Sector 3.


- Scott.

With the late issue of Telegram 029-14GM, issue date 5 February, Roster 174 will be changed from S to A set consist as from Thursday, 6 February.  


- Scott.

Is or was their really anything wrong the S-Sets, except in very hot weather?

How much more years could these set have in them?

Is or was their really anything wrong the S-Sets, except in very hot weather?

Yes. I do believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that they require more maintenance, and are starting to age quite significantly. Anybody can take a look at one and you'll see, they're filled with 'markings' from younger f*cks in society (including scratched windows, slashed seats, if any, and various "tags" on the interior walls or doors). Some are just clapped out. They could be fixed, but, it would be better for the $$$ to go on other important things, than to repair a clapped out S set.
Only a small handful of sets have had a heavy CCO in the last year, as these were in the best condition.

How much more years could these set have in them?

Depends on what condition it's in. The sets that were heavy CCO'd last year are meant to stay until around 2016-2017. But they were only meant to last until 2010.

Between the last visit to Enfield, 1/02/14, and a visit Saturday afternoon 8/02/14, another 16 cars have been added, as follows:-  

Set S123 consist: 3971, 4049, 4002, 3915 and set S135 consist: 3871, 4003, 4046, 3972 (South End No.1 Road).  
Set S151 consist: 3983, plus 3 cars obscured from view and set S139 consist: 3 cars obscured from view plus 3042 (South End No.2 Road).  


As at 1500 hours, Saturday, 8/02/14, status at Enfield:-
Road 1: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 2: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 3: Empty (room for 24 cars)
Road 4: 4 cars (room for 28 cars)
Road 5: 32 cars (full)


- Scott.

S Set heavy overhauls have recommenced at the back half of this financial years car plan with 4 sets to be so treated, they are also in next years CCO car plan, not sure the total number of sets to be done, will post when the car plan is confirmed.
Also C Sets (except C9) are due for their Light overhauls from next years car plan and C9 will receive a heavy and is the only heavy.

Any updates on S-set roster either in service or withdrawn?

Any updates on S-set roster?

Just a sample of the current train running statistics, with S sets running in place of our Air-conditioned Stock:-

Friday afternoon Peak, 21/2/14:-
Sector 2: Two (2) A set Rosters (numbers 51 and 58 ) running with 8car S sets.
Sector 3: One (1) A set Roster (number 164) running as 8car S set.

Friday afternoon Peak, 28/2/14:-
Sector 2:
One (1) Millennium Roster (number 4) running as 8car S set.
Also, A set Roster in Sector 2 (number 67) running as 8car C set.
Sector 3:
Three (3) A set Rosters (numbers 130, 172, 178 ) running with 8car S sets.
Also, A set Roster in Sector 3 (number 155) running as 8car K set.  


Is this just a brief example for the retention of S set cars, or are we still in a "transition" period ?
In my view, that was a lot of Waratah A sets out of traffic on those particular days.  


- Scott.

In my view, that was a lot of Waratah A sets out of traffic on those particular days.

Not really, on a daily basis there are usually one or two A Set rosters operated by another set type in its place.

Coincidentally, there are a lot of (normally) A Set rosters today being operated by S and other set types. I recall counting a total of nine for today.

Not really, on a daily basis there are usually one or two A Set rosters operated by another set type in its place.

Coincidentally, there are a lot of (normally) A Set rosters today being operated by S and other set types. I recall counting a total of nine for today.

Nine A sets out of service due to coupler problems I was told.

Based on the current processes involved with scrapping, s sets will obviously be the first to completely disappear. However how long do k & c sets have left realistically ? Before none are actively running.

Based on the current processes involved with scrapping, s sets will obviously be the first to completely disappear. However how long do k & c sets have left realistically ? Before none are actively running.

I don't understand the question? Are you saying no "S" Sets are running, or no K&C sets are running? Both statements at categorically false, either way.

My opinion is S Sets have up to 5 years left. C Sets around 5 years (more if we could, I'd love to keep them around longer) and K Sets should have another 10 years left in them.

Not really, on a daily basis there are usually one or two A Set rosters operated by another set type in its place...

Actually I dispute that.  Most days when I check the noticeboard (this week excluded), I usually see "All Sets as Planned", which means that ALL the waratarts are as tabled - at this has been fairly consistent since at least Oct/Nov 2013.  And that's NOT just an observation of what I see in service, that's straight off the computer system.  
Now as the day progresses things may change with operational failures that may require a waratart to be changed out, however even then, I've seen set changes done where the faulty waratart was replaced with another waratart, so it's only when either there are insufficient spares or time is critical, that an S replaces a waratart.

I'm fairly sure that operations and especially EDI are at pains to avoid putting S Sets on tabled Waratart runs and only do so when they must.  This week they seem to have a shortage of sets, so all sorts is happening...

Based on the current processes involved with scrapping, s sets will obviously be the first to completely disappear. However how long do k & c sets have left realistically ? Before none are actively running.

I pretty much agree with Raichase.

S Sets will be around for a fair while longer.  The current timetable cannot run without them, even when the Waratart order is completed.  So the remaining S Sets will need to be replaced with new trains that have yet to be ordered yet.  Considering how long it takes for those process to occur, with the government and departmental bureaucracy, that suggests the S Sets will be around at least another 5 years.  
As for the K and C Sets they'll be around another 10 years easy, unless the government magically find some money to purchase new trains to replace them all and fast tracks (no pun intended) the program, in addition to acquiring S Set replacements - or they scrap the current "ALL NEW TIMETABLE".
Those silver sets can keep running indefinitely for as long as Sydney Trains is prepared to keep throwing the required amount of coin at them and have the desire to maintain (including Heavy Maintenance/CCOs etc) them and keep them up to standard - not withstanding any suffering damage from major operational incidents/accidents that will require they be retired.

S set status at Enfield, since my last post 8/02/14.

On two subsequent visits 14/02/14 and 22/02/14: no change.


However, between the last visit, 22/02/14, and Friday evening, 7/03/14, 36 cars have vacated (Roads 4 and 5 Empty).
The remaining cars (8 cars Road 1, and 8 cars Road 2) have Pantographs back on the wire and compressors running, internal Lights switched off.

As at 1930 hours, Friday, 7/03/14, status at Enfield:-
Road 1: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 2: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 3: Empty (room for 24 cars)
Road 4: Empty (room for 32 cars)
Road 5: Empty (room for 32 cars)


- Scott.

In regards to S Sets, I have seen plans that see them maintained until 2019, that was based on us (UGL Unipart) needing to overhaul about 40 - 50 cars a year totalling 192 cars which were selected as having had significant corrosion repairs done at their last CCO. The figure was based on timetable needs and spare sets to cover the usual amount of out of service sets for maintenance etc, no mentioned has been made about scrapping C or K sets, other than to scrap a C set for chopper components to allow a bigger parts pool for both C and V choppers. Mention was also made of converting a C set to Camshaft instead of scrapping it. I can not see any AC train being cut up for at least 10+ years and that will only happen once the S Sets are all gone. There i s now talk of returning most of the Series 2 DCM/DCT V Set cars to service, so I
don't think much more will be scrapped once they get the fleet number down to where it needs to be to run the timetable plus spares for additional capacity.

S set status at Enfield, since my last post 7/03/14.

Between the last visit, 7/03/14, and Saturday morning, 22/03/14, 2 x 8car sets have been added (Roads 3 and 4) with Pantographs on the wire.
From the Fence Line, one car can be seen on Road 3, Car 3009 (South End), this car was recently in the consist of set S122.
On Road 4, one car can be seen, Car 3947 (South End), this car was recently in the consist of set S140.

The cars previously mentioned on Roads 1 and 2, have once again had their Pantographs lowered.


As at 1100 hours, Saturday, 22/03/14, status at Enfield:-
Road 1: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 2: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 3: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 4: 8 cars (room for 24 cars)
Road 5: Empty (room for 32 cars)


- Scott.

Another new set should be S124. Both it and S140 were scheduled to be taken from Mortdale into Enfield mid-last week.

Between the last visit, 22/03/14, and Sunday afternoon, 30/03/14, another 8 cars have arrived at Enfield on Road 5.
From the Fence Line, one car can be seen, Car 3986 (South End), this car was recently in the consist of set S124.


As at 1245 hours, Sunday, 30/03/14, status at Enfield:-
Road 1: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 2: 8 cars (room for 16 cars)
Road 3: 8 cars (room for 16 cars) with Pantographs on the wire.
Road 4: 8 cars (room for 24 cars) with Pantographs on the wire.
Road 5: 8 cars (room for 24 cars) with Pantographs on the wire.

Note: The abovementioned Cars, together with other sets left in service and in Maintenance Centres, did count toward the mentioned total of 192 cars (48 sets) required to be retained for some years to come.
Therefore, the way these sets have been Stabled may indicate these cars are in "warm storage".


- Scott.

I've heard from a reliable source that another 16 S set cars (4x 4 car sets) maybe retired from FMC. One of them is S67 - 3018-4118-4157-3066.