In the lead up to the 2015 state election, the Baird Government committed itself, if re-elected, to replacing the XPT fleet (19 power cars and 60 carriages).[4][5] Having been returned to office, in October 2016, the government announced it was also considering replacing the Xplorer (23 carriages) and Endeavour (28 carriages) diesel multiple unit fleets.[6][7][8]
In August 2017, the government announced it had decided to proceed with the replacement of all three fleets.[9] In November 2017, three consortia, led by Bombardier, CAF and Downer, were shortlisted for the contract to build the trains.[10] In May 2018, the Bombardier Consortium withdrew from the process.[11]
A contract was signed in February 2019 with Momentum Trains, a consortium of CAF, DIF Infrastructure and Pacific Partnerships.[12] The order will comprise 117 bi-modeCivity carriages which will make up a total of 29 trains:[13][14]
10 long (6-car) trainsets for use on long-distance Regional services (replacing the XPT fleet)
9 short (3-car) short-distance Regional trainsets (replacing the Xplorer fleet)
10 short (3-car) Intercity sets (replacing the Endeavour fleet)
The first complete 6-car unit arrived at Port Kembla on 14 February 2024 and was taken by road to Dubbo.[17][18] On 30 September 2024, the set was transferred by rail from Mindyarra Maintenance Centre to Auburn Maintenance Centre in Auburn to prepare for electric traction testing in the coming months.[19]