During 1992, tenders were called for additional rollingstock and existing rollingstock to be refurbished in preparation for services to Melbourne in 1993. ABB Transportation of Dandenong, Victoria, was contracted to build four new power cars, five deluxe trailers (classified XL) and eight sleeping cars (classified XAM). The coding of the sleeping cars followed previous NSW practice where A indicated a sleeping car and M indicated Mann style sleeping berths.
A. Goninan & Co of Newcastle was also contracted to rebuild the existing fleet of trailers. XDH2100-2103 were rebuilt to match the new deluxe trailers, XDR2150-2156 were modified with new buffet compartments. XD2225 and XDH2111 were also rebuilt as buffet cars. A wooden bodied carriage, MFH2725, was fitted with a prototype of the new buffet in 1992. The remaining XFH/XDH trailers were refurbished with new carpets and curtins and D type seats installed. The remaining XF and XD trailers were also refurbished and fitted with D type seats, except for XF2200, 220, 2203, 2205, 2211, XD2213 and XD2215 which were fitted with deluxe seats of the type fitted to the XL cars. Public elephones were also installed in the new and converted XL trailers. A later conversion was XD2202 being fitted with XL style seats in December 1993.
The new rollingstock from ABB was delivered from Melbourne to Sydney on the following dates, several days after being delivered from teh factory:
XP2015 31/ 8/92 City of Melbourne, later City of Bathurst XP2016 19/11/92 City of Cootamundra XP2017 17/12/92 City of Melbourne XP2018 8/ 1/93 Not named XL2228 5/ 3/93 XL2229 11/ 3/93 XL2230 2/ 4/93 XL2231 2/ 4/93 XL2232 2/ 4/93 XAM2175 21/ 5/93 XAM2176 15/ 7/93 XAM2177 15/ 7/93 XAM2178 31/ 7/93 XAM2179 31/ 7/93 XAM2180 26/10/93 XAM2181 6/11/93 XAM2182 28/10/93The XL and XAM care were fitted with NMA bogies designed by ABB. These were also fitted to the Xplorer and Endeavour railcars.
The standard consists became (from the Sydney end):
2+5: XP - XFH - XD - XD - XDR - XL - XP
2+7: XP - XFH - XD - XD - XDR - XF - XL - XAM - XP
2+5 sets were used on Dubbo and Tamworth services with 2+7 sets running to Melbourne, Brisbane and Murwillumbah. By this stage, most XF trailers had first class seats in them. Conversions were still taking place but vehicles had not yet been recoded. For example, the departure of ST1 (20.43 to Melbourne) on 18/2/94 was XP2017 - XAM2178 - XDH2100 - XF2215 - XDH2111 - XM2209 - XD2222 - XFH2105 - XP2000. The XDH had been rebuilt as an XL and the XF was first class, despite its economy class code.
In February 1994, after all the conversions were complete, the car codes were standardised.
Old code New code Notes XDH2100 XL2233 Rebuild XDH2101 XL2234 Rebuild XDH2102 XL2235 Rebuild XDH2103 XL2236 Rebuild XFH2104 - XFH2105 - XFH2106 - XFH2107 - XFH2108 - XFH2109 - XFH2110 - XDH2111 XBR2158 Rebuild XDH2112 XFH2112 XDH2113 XFH2113 XDR2150 XBR2150 XDR2151 XBR2151 XDR2152 XBR2152 XDR2153 XBR2153 XDR2154 XBR2154 XDR2155 XBR2155 XDR2156 XBR2156 XF2200 XB2200 XF2201 XB2201 XF2202 XB2202 XF2203 XB2203 XF2204 XB2204 XF2205 XB2205 XM2206 XB2206 XM2207 XB2207 XM2208 XB2208 XM2209 XB2209 XM2210 XF2210 XF2211 XF2211 XM2212 XF2212 XD2213 XF2213 XD2214 XF2214 XD2215 XF2215 XD2216 XF2216 XD2217 XF2217 XD2218 XF2218 XD2219 XF2219 XD2220 XF2220 XD2221 XF2221 XD2222 XF2222 XD2223 XF2223 XD2224 XF2224 XD2225 XBR2157 RebuildDuring testing of XP2015, a special train consisting of XP2015 - XFH2107 - XDR2155 - XDH2113 - XP2003 was run to Albury. An attempt was made to reach 200km/h for the first time on 18/9/92, but the record top speed was 193km/h between Table Top and Yerong Creek. (NOTE: A new record of 210km/h was set by the Queensland Rail tilt train on 23/5/99.) XP2015 had been named City of Melbourne but was renamed City of Bathurst after this record breaking run. XP2017 was named City of Melbourne in Melbourne on 16/12/92.
XAM, XB, XBR and XL trailers were first class and XF and XFH trailers were economy class. From November 1993 the standard 2+7 consist became (from the Sydney end) XP - XFH - XF - XF - XBR - XB - XL - XAM - XP. The 2+5 consist used on the Central West XPT was XP - XFH - XF - XBR - XB - XL - XP.
From 1/7/94 the XB cars were reclassed as economy and the standard 2+7 consist became XP - XFH - XB/XF - XB/XF - XB/XF - XBR - XL - XAM - XP. The 2+5 consist became XP - XFH - XB/XF - XB/XF - XBR - XL - XP. In due course the XB trailers may be recoded XF.
From October 1994 the old D type seats in the XB, XF, and XFH trailers started to be replaced with a version of the seats fitted to the XBR and XL trailers.