Metro Trains on track to energy efficiency

• Case Studies
• November 25, 2020
• Danielle O'Reilly

Wattly and Northmore Gordon worked alongside Metro Trains and the contractors over a period of almost three years to ensure every step of the Victorian Energy Upgrades program were met to the high standards required by the rules and programs regulator. We enjoyed their enthusiasm and professionally towards recognising the energy savingsElectricity or gas savings or both. and carbon emissions achieved through the Comeng Life Extension. – Metro Trains Melbourne

The Client

Metro Trains Melbourne operates 226 six carriage trains across 1,000 kilometres of track, transporting 450,000 customers each day. Metro Trains is owned by and draws on the strengths and experience of three leading rail industry organisations: Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, Australia’s John Holland Group and UGL Rail, a division of United Group Limited.

Key Facts

• Equipment Upgraded: 136 x Comeng Train Units Upgraded 14,100 lights replaced
• Annual Energy Savings: ~2,000 MWh PA
• Carbon Abatement: ~2,200 tCO2e PA, OPEX: ~200,000
• Certificate Value: $570k / < 1 year payback
• Program: Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEUVictorian Energy Upgrades is a Victorian government energy efficiency program that gives every Victorian household and business the opportunity to receive rebates or discounts on energy saving products.) using
• Project Based Activities (PBAProject Based Activities)
• Wattly Partner: Northmore Gordon

The Project

Every year 1,000s of fluorescent tubes would require replacement on the aging Comeng train fleet to ensure uniform lighting levels and colour throughout all carriages. As part of the Comeng Series Train life extension project Metro Trains replaced 14,100 fluorescent tubes with high efficiency LED replacements to improve reliability and energy efficiency. The Comeng Life Extension project updated the interior and exterior of Melbourne’s fleet of Comeng trains in order to keep them in service until potentially 2027 and beyond.

Challenges

• High Maintenance overheads
• Desire to extend the life of existing fleet

Additional Outcomes

• Removal over more then 14,000 fluorescent tubes from service and the recycling of the small amounts of mercury that exists in the tubes
• Reduced maintenance cost by 95% with reliability and more consistent lighting levels at all times
• The LED lighting upgrades means the trains will spend more time in service

Our Role

Wattly and Northmore Gordon worked with Metro Trains and TTM Rail to ensure the specialised lights for the train sets were approved under the VEU. They provided a sophisticated approach using a sampling measurement and verification apprach to allow a subset of the fleet to be measured and the savings calculated for the entire fleet. They worked through many stages of the VEU PBA methodology to ensure certificate regristration and payment to Metro Trains.

Industry

Transportation

Location

Melbourne, Victoria

Hamish McGovern

Group Managing Director

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