Bedford-29 wrote:This might be what the new interurbans probably be based on the UZ Rail Ukraine class 675.Pictures from skyscrapercity.com
They're Skoda double-deck emus, very much inspired by our V sets and typical European low-platform double deckers, For anybody who hasn't been on European double deckers, their internal layout is completely different and in no way adapatable to the Australian environment. Basically the main deck is the lower deck which you enter at. Then there's a two-stage climb to the upper deck at the ends of the carriage. In the Australian trains with the high platform you enter at the middle level and then either go down to the lower deck or up to the upper deck. American ones are generally similar to the European ones. You couldn't adapt either to Australian operation without basically gutting the interior and starting all over again - and changing the exterior as well.
I don't know where the notion of being able to buy off-the-shelf came from, but I recall a John Dunn article some years ago where he explored how these overseas models could be adapted. John and Gladys talked together a lot when she was in opposition, I think he was one of her constituents.
The Hyundai Rotem ones are going to be bespoke for Sydney and hopefully well-guided by Australian input so that no mistakes are made. I think the structural problems with some of the American ones are due to local assembly and sourcing of parts from USA.