The V Set Interurban passenger trains were delivered by Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng) between 1970 and 1989 to supplement the single deck U Boat interurbans built by Comeng back in 1958, and cater for an ever increasing patronage of the electrified intercity NSWGR network. The fleet of 246 V Set cars was built by Comeng at their Granville facility under 7 separate contracts.
The first contract for 16 (consisting of 8 power cars, 4 driving tailor cars and 4 trailer cars) were less than successful, being fitted with AEI electrical equipment split between the power and trailer cars, an unpopular split first/economy passenger configuration and being non compatible with subsequent 230 V set cars delivered. In the early 1980s all were converted to single class trailer cars each featuring a toilet, the power and driving trailer type retaining their reinforced moulded plastic ends. In 2002 all 16 were scrapped because of corrosion in their mild steel underframes.
All subsequent deliveries had stainless steel underframes, one class seating, gold as opposed to green tinted glass and features Mitsubishi Electric equipment contained fully within the power cars, the early 72 power crs having camshaft electric control, the following 53 featuring thyristor chopper control. The trailer cars featured vacuum retention toilets.
When introduced from 1970 the V Sets operated Central to Gosford (on the Short North) and to Mt Victoria (on the Main West), the latter extended to Lithgow in 1978 after the modification to the 10 tunnels between Newnes Junction and Lithgow. As electrification of the network progressed, they operated to Wyong (1982), Newcastle (1984), and on the South Coast to Port Kembla (1986), Dapto (1993) and Kiama (2001). Increased frequency requirements, withdrawal of some of the earlier V Sets and introduction of the Oscar sets has seen them removed from South Coast services since 2012.
Withdrawal of the remaining V Sets is scheduled to commence in 2020 when they will start to be replaced by a new design known as the D Sets. The first sets of these arrived by ship at Port Kembla on December 17th 2019.
Approximate run time: 101 minutes.