View source for M-Train

{{Short description|Former railway operator in Melbourne, Australia}}
{{About|the former Australian railway company|3=M Train (disambiguation)}}
{{Correct title|M>Train|reason=bracket}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox company
| name = M>Train (Bayside Trains)
| logo = M-Train-brand.png
| logo_size = 
| logo_caption = 
| image = Comeng477.jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_caption = [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] after refurbishment by [[Downer Rail|EDi Rail]] in October 2002
| former_name = Bayside Trains
| type = 
| traded_as = 
| industry = Railway operator
| fate = 
| predecessor = [[Public Transport Corporation]]
| successor = [[Connex Melbourne]]
| foundation = 1 July 1998
| founder = 
| defunct = 18 April 2004
| location_city = [[Melbourne]]
| location_country = 
| locations = 
| area_served = Melbourne
| key_people = 
| products = 
| production = 
| services = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| assets = 
| equity = 
| owner = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = [[National Express]]
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20030802100157/http://www.mtrain.com.au/ www.mtrain.com.au]
}}
'''M>Train''' (pron. "M train") was a train operator in [[Melbourne]], Australia, which operated some of the city's [[Railways in Melbourne|suburban rail operations]]. Formed in July 1998 as '''Bayside Trains''', a business unit of the [[Public Transport Corporation]], it was privatised in August 1999 and became a subsidiary of [[National Express]].

In December 2002, National Express handed the franchise in, with the [[Government of Victoria|Victorian state government]] taking over until negotiations were concluded for [[Connex Melbourne]] to take over in April 2004.

==History==
In October 1997, in preparation for privatisation, it was announced that the [[Public Transport Corporation]]'s [[Railways in Melbourne|suburban rail operations]] were split into two business units, Bayside Trains and [[Connex Melbourne|Hillside Trains]]. On 1 July 1998, the former took over operation of the [[Frankston railway line|Frankston]], [[Cranbourne railway line|Cranbourne]], [[Pakenham railway line|Pakenham]], [[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham]], [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown]], [[Werribee railway line|Werribee]], [[Sunbury railway line|Sydenham]] (now Sunbury), [[Craigieburn railway line|Broadmeadows]] (now Craigieburn) and [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]] line services.<ref>"Melbourne's Rail Network to be Split" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' November 1997 page 12</ref><ref>"City in Brief" ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' December 1997 page 835</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/19991209-Goverment%27s-Finance-1998-99.pdf|title=Report of the Auditor-General - Victorian Government's finances 1998-99|publisher=Auditor-General of Victoria|page=114|date=1999|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325111910/https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/19991209-Goverment%27s-Finance-1998-99.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ipa_2007>{{cite web|url=https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1179188058_document_allsop_transport.pdf|title=Victoria’s public transport - Assessing the results of privatisation|publisher=Institute of Public Affairs|page=8|date=April 2007|access-date=25 March 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325111242/https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/archive/1179188058_document_allsop_transport.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bayside Trains initially operated service on the [[Orbost railway line|Orbost line]] as far as [[Warragul railway station|Warragul]] under contract to [[V/Line]] until electric services ceased beyond [[Pakenham railway station|Pakenham]].<ref name=BulletinMar99>"Melbourne EMU Fleet" ''[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]'' issue 737 March 1999 page 116</ref> On 1 July 1998, operation of the [[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point line]] was transferred from V/Line.<ref>"Victorian Rail Transport Business Formerly Established" ''Railway Digest'' September 1998 page 15</ref>

[[National Express]] successfully bid to take over the Bayside Trains services from 29 August 1999 beating competition from [[Veolia Transport|Connex]], [[GB Railways]] and a [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Singapore MRT]] led consortium.<ref>"All change for private trains and trams" ''Railway Digest'' August 1999 page 23</ref><ref>"NEG conquers Oz" ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 363 11 August 1999 page 11</ref> National Express were also awarded the [[M-Tram|Swanston Trams]] franchise and [[V/Line#National Express|V/Line]] concession.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/national-express-group-awarded-three-franchises-to-operate-passenger-train-and-tram-services-in-melbourne-and-the-state-of-victoria-in-australia-156491325.html National Express Group Awarded Three Franchises] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011110718/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/national-express-group-awarded-three-franchises-to-operate-passenger-train-and-tram-services-in-melbourne-and-the-state-of-victoria-in-australia-156491325.html |date=11 October 2013 }} National Express June 1999</ref><ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/national-express-takes-root-in-melbourne.html National Express takes root in Melbourne] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025174623/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/national-express-takes-root-in-melbourne.html |date=25 October 2013 }} ''Railway Gazette International'' 1 October 2000</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 - now|work=ARHS Railway Museum|url=http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history3.html|accessdate=2008-02-05|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208193612/http://www.railwaymuseum.org.au/history3.html|archivedate=8 February 2007}}</ref>

In October 2000, National Express rebranded Bayside Trains as M>Train.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.investis.com/nx/downloads/report2001/australia.htm|title=National Express - Review of Operations - Australia|publisher=investis.com|accessdate=2008-04-29|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022627/http://www.investis.com/nx/downloads/report2001/australia.htm|archivedate=27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>"Moving Melbourne - A New Brand Coming for Melbourne's Transport" ''[[Transit Australia]]'' January 2001 page 18</ref><ref>"Metros" ''Railway Gazette International'' July 2001 page 441</ref>

In December 2002, National Express handed in its Victorian rail and tram franchises having been unable to renegotiate financial terms with the [[Government of Victoria|State Government]] who took over operations.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2836793/National-Express-walks-out-of-Australian-rail-service.html National Express walks out of Australian rail service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160218/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2836793/National-Express-walks-out-of-Australian-rail-service.html |date=12 January 2018 }} ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' (London) 17 December 2002</ref><ref>"Privatisation takes a tumble in Victoria" ''Railway Gazette International'' February 2003 page 61</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2894001/Nat-Express-pulls-back-Down-Under.html Nat Express pull back Down Under] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412221223/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2894001/Nat-Express-pulls-back-Down-Under.html |date=12 April 2018 }} ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London) 3 September 2004</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The long goodbye|author=Richard Web|work=The Age|date=14 March 2004|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/13/1078594612786.html|accessdate=2008-02-17|archive-date=16 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816152712/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/13/1078594612786.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[KPMG]] were appointed to operate the business on behalf of the State Government.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/23/1040511007915.html Receivers take over train, tram group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026135818/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/23/1040511007915.html |date=26 October 2012 }} ''[[The Age]]'' 24 December 2002</ref><ref>[https://www.railexpress.com.au/victorian-passenger-services-get-new-managers/ Victorian passenger services get new managers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325102128/https://www.railexpress.com.au/victorian-passenger-services-get-new-managers/ |date=25 March 2023 }} ''Rail Express'' 28 January 2003</ref> In May 2003, the State Government announced it would establish a single company to operate both networks, and was negotiating with [[Connex Melbourne]] (who operated the other half of the network) to operate this entity. In February 2004, an agreement was reached, and the networks were reunited on 18 April 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=Down Frankston way it's a popular line|author=Selma Milovanovic, Rachel Wells|work=The Age|date=17 April 2004|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/16/1082055646029.html?from=storyrhs|accessdate=2008-02-17|archive-date=6 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606014631/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/16/1082055646029.html?from=storyrhs|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Operations==
[[File:MTrainSiemens.jpg|thumb|[[Siemens Nexas]] in a trial M>Train livery]]
M>Train operated the [[Railways in Melbourne|suburban rail services]] in the western, north-western, south-eastern, and southern suburbs running through [[North Melbourne railway station|North Melbourne]] and [[South Yarra railway station|South Yarra]] stations. These were the [[Werribee railway line|Werribee]], [[Williamstown railway line|Williamstown]], [[Sunbury railway line|Sydenham]] (now Sunbury), [[Craigieburn railway line|Broadmeadows]] (now Craigieburn), [[Upfield railway line|Upfield]], [[Pakenham railway line|Pakenham]], [[Cranbourne railway line|Cranbourne]], [[Frankston railway line|Frankston]], [[Sandringham railway line|Sandringham]] and [[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point]] lines, in addition to maintaining the three underground [[City Loop]] stations.

When the Public Transport Corporation fleet was split, Bayside Trains were allocated 58 three-car [[Hitachi (Australian train)|Hitachi]] and 97 three-car [[Comeng (train)|Comeng]] sets.<ref name=BulletinMar99/> [[V/Line A class|A class]] locomotives and [[V/Line H type carriage#MTH (loose) carriages|MTH carriages]] were hired from [[V/Line]] for services on the unelectrified [[Stony Point railway line|Stony Point line]].

To replace the Hitachis, 62 three-car [[Siemens Nexas]] were ordered.<ref>"Victorian rolling stock contracts announced" ''Railway Digest'' May 2000 page 20</ref><ref>"M>Train Electric Sets Unveiled" ''Railway Digest'' March 2001 page 10</ref>

Until November 2003, M>Train also issued its own annual railway tickets, running in parallel and sold at a discount to those [[Metcard]] system, but only permitting travel on their half of the network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/myear01.htm|title=Related AFC tickets - M>Train Yearly Ticket|publisher=robx1.net|accessdate=2008-04-29|archive-date=2 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502045754/http://www.robx1.net/victkt/metcard/html/myear01.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|before=[[Public Transport Corporation]]|title=[[Railways in Melbourne]]<br><small>Caufield & Northern groups</small>|years=1999-2002|after=[[Government of Victoria|State Government]]<br>then [[Connex Melbourne]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{FormerVictorianRailCompanies}}
{{NEXG}}

[[Category:Defunct railway companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Mobico Group]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2004]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:2004 disestablishments in Australia]]