Sydney Marks Historic End of an Era as 45-Year-Old K-Set Passenger Trains Complete Final Journey Ahead of Next-Generation Fleet Integration

A Revered Chapter Closes in New South Wales Railway History

SYDNEY, New South Wales — In an emotional and widely celebrated milestone for Australian rail transport, Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW have officially retired the historic K-Set electric passenger train fleet after 45 years of dedicated public service across the Greater Sydney network. On Friday, October 2, 2026, thousands of railway enthusiasts, lifelong commuters, transport employees, and community members gathered along station platforms from Central to Blacktown to bid farewell to the iconic stainless-steel double-decker carriages as they completed their final scheduled timetabled passenger journeys.

First manufactured by Comeng at Granville and introduced into service in December 1981, the K-Set trains served as the undisputed workhorses of Sydney’s suburban commuter network for nearly half a century. Clocking tens of millions of kilometers, the resilient fleet carried generations of Sydneysiders across the T1 Western, T2 Inner West, T3 Bankstown, and T9 Northern Lines, enduring as a beloved fixture of the Harbour City’s cultural and industrial landscape.

Commemorative Final Journeys and Heritage Preservation

To celebrate their remarkable legacy, Sydney Trains organized commemorative farewell passenger runs operated by railway veterans who had driven and maintained the fleet across four decades. Passengers on board were treated to heritage souvenir tickets and historical onboard announcements reflecting upon the trains' evolutionary role—from being among the first NSW fleets equipped with factory-fitted air conditioning to their decades of dependable service during Olympic games and civic festivals.

Transport authorities confirmed that select pristine carriages from the K-Set fleet will be permanently preserved by Transport Heritage NSW at the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere, ensuring that their mechanical design, stainless-steel fluting, and historical significance are conserved for educational exhibits and future generations.

Accelerating Sydney’s Next-Generation Rolling Stock Transition

The formal decommissioning of the K-Sets paves the way for the total modernization of the Sydney Trains rolling stock roster. Services previously handled by the legacy sets are being seamlessly absorbed by advanced, energy-efficient Waratah Series 2 trainsets and the expanding rollout of the high-capacity Mariyung Intercity Fleet. These state-of-the-art trains feature advanced regenerative braking, automated safety cameras, full real-time digital passenger information displays, onboard charging ports, and enhanced accessibility ramps at every carriage entrance.

Simultaneously, the NSW Government is moving full steam ahead on its comprehensive Tangara fleet life-extension and technological upgrade program, ensuring that Sydney's heavy-rail network maintains optimum reliability, passenger comfort, and safety standards.

Generational Transformation of Sydney’s Multi-Modal Transport Grid

NSW transport leadership noted that the retirement of legacy rolling stock reflects Sydney's rapid evolution into a world-leading smart mobility metropolis. Alongside the final integration testing of the driverless Southwest Sydney Metro extension and multi-billion-dollar investments in zero-emission electric buses and battery-electric harbour ferries, Sydney is building a cleaner, faster, and more accessible mass transit future for all commuters.