ADL/ADC class diesel multiple unit

File:Auckland_Railway_Station_Beach_Road.jpg, prior to 2003]]

Between 1981 and 1985, ten two-carriage stainless steel sets were manufactured for the Metropolitan Transport Trust and Westrail by A Goninan & Co, Newcastle.{{MayGray-WAGRPassCar |pages=319–323}}

Following the electrification of the Perth rail network they were rendered surplus and in 1993 all were sold, along with the older ADK/ADB class, to New Zealand Rail to replace locomotive-hauled 56-foot carriages on suburban trains in Auckland.{{sfn|Churchman & Hurst|2001|p=64}}

The units arrived in Auckland from Perth in April 1993.{{sfn|Parsons|2002|p=36}} One unit went to Hutt Workshops in the winter of 1993 for staff familiarisation, while the other units were prepared for New Zealand service at Westfield locomotive depot.{{sfn|Parsons|2002|p=36}}

As a result of the units’ introduction, station platforms in Auckland needed to be raised.

In October 1993, prior to New Zealand Rail being privatised, the company sold the class to the Auckland Regional Council.{{cite web|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/auckland/31-08-2017/twenty-million-trips-auckland-rail-has-come-a-long-way-in-a-very-short-time/|title=Twenty million trips! Auckland rail has come a long way in a very short time|publisher=The Spinoff|date=31 August 2017|author=Matt Lowrie|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074437/https://thespinoff.co.nz/auckland/31-08-2017/twenty-million-trips-auckland-rail-has-come-a-long-way-in-a-very-short-time/|url-status=live}}File:DMU's 853-803 (14948687788) (cropped).jpg, 2014]]

In 2002, the Auckland Regional Council funded an upgrade of the class, which included refurbishment of the interiors and painting in the new MAXX blue colour scheme. The first refurbished unit entered service in December 2002, the last in November 2003.{{cite web |date=2010 |title=Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA): 1 December 2004 – 31 October 2010 |url=https://at.govt.nz/media/imported/4468/AT-ARTA-Report-TheARTAYears2004-2009.pdf |access-date=28 February 2019 |publisher=Auckland Transport |archive-date=26 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126031319/https://at.govt.nz/media/imported/4468/AT-ARTA-Report-TheARTAYears2004-2009.pdf |url-status=live }}

In 2011, Auckland Transport indicated four two-car sets would be retained after the Auckland rail electrification project is completed.{{cite web |title=Electric trains: technical details |url=http://transportblog.co.nz/2011/10/10/electric-trains-technical-details/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011103909/http://transportblog.co.nz/2011/10/10/electric-trains-technical-details/ |archive-date=11 October 2011 |access-date=10 October 2011 |publisher=Auckland Transport Blog}}

Due to the introduction of the AM class electric multiple unit on all of Auckland's suburban railway lines, the ADL/ADC units were retained only for use between Pukekohe and Papakura station as a shuttle service. This was due to that portion of the North Island Main Trunk not being electrified at the time. The diesel units were also used to provide service during power outages when electric trains could not operate.{{Cite web |title=Auckland power cuts may take several days to fix for some as thousands of properties remain without electricity |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2018/04/10/auckland-power-cuts-may-take-several-days-to-fix-for-some-as-thousands-of-properties-remain-without-electricity/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=1 News |language=en |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813033129/https://www.1news.co.nz/2018/04/10/auckland-power-cuts-may-take-several-days-to-fix-for-some-as-thousands-of-properties-remain-without-electricity/ |url-status=live }}

In 2020, the government announced funding for electrification of this section,{{cite web |author=Jane Paterson |date=29 January 2020 |title=Govt's $12b infrastructure spend: Rail, roads and DHBs the big winners |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408385/govt-s-12b-infrastructure-spend-rail-roads-and-dhbs-the-big-winners |access-date=29 January 2020 |website=Radio New Zealand |archive-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129002150/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408385/govt-s-12b-infrastructure-spend-rail-roads-and-dhbs-the-big-winners |url-status=live }} which once completed will render the ADL/ADC DMUs surplus to requirements. The ADL class were retired in August 2022.{{cite web | url=https://at.govt.nz/pukekohetrains | title=Electric trains to Pukekohe | access-date=29 July 2022 | archive-date=29 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729004444/https://at.govt.nz/pukekohetrains | url-status=live }}

Two out of service ADLs were transferred to Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) for storage in 2021 to make space for new EMUs. The DMUs were hauled to GVR by the railway's own DBR1254, because KiwiRail were unable to provide motive power for the transfers.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-railway-magazine/20210127/284073439329971|title=DMUs move around New Zealand for preservation and secure storage|publisher=The Railway Magazine|date=27 January 2021|accessdate=13 August 2022|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813050758/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-railway-magazine/20210127/284073439329971|url-status=live}} The remainder of the ADLs are now also stored at Glenbrook Vintage Railway and Pukeoware depot.

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |title= The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History |last1= Churchman |first1= Geoffrey B |last2= Hurst |first2= Tony |year= 2001 |publisher=Transpress New Zealand |edition=Second |location= Wellington |isbn= 0-908876-20-3 |ref=CITEREFChurchman & Hurst2001}} (First edition 1990, 1991)
• {{cite book|last=Parsons|first=David|title=New Zealand Railway Motive Power 2002|publisher=New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society|year=2002|isbn=978-0-908573-78-3|pages=64|url=http://www.railsoc.org.nz/pub/books.htm|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307092833/http://www.railsoc.org.nz/pub/books.htm|archive-date=7 March 2007|url-status=dead}}

{{refend}}

• [http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/adl---auckland-of-1993.html ADL class Auckland 1993 – New Zealand Railways Rollingstock List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192128/http://nzrailwaysrollingstocklists.weebly.com/adl---auckland-of-1993.html |date=28 February 2019 }}

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{{NZR Locomotives|state=collapsed}}

{{Perth public transport |state=collapsed}}

{{WAGR Railcars |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ADL ADC class diesel multiple unit}}

Category:Diesel multiple units of New Zealand

Category:Diesel multiple units of Western Australia

Category:Passenger rail transport in Perth, Western Australia