The New Intercity Fleet, Mariyung, completed its first in-service journey from Newcastle to Central last week, showcasing its many customer-focused features. Passengers enjoyed power outlets for charging devices, ample luggage racks, seat-back tray tables, bike racks, and improved accessibility, with a record number of wheelchair passengers on board. Mariyung sets a new benchmark for accessibility and user-centric design in NSW rail transport.

Design development for the Mariyung fleet started at the IDA offices in mid 2017, with IDA leading weekly meetings of an Industrial Design Working Group that saw a collaboration between multiple disciplines including Industrial Design, Human Factors, Accessibility, Customer Experience, Branding, Engineering and Manufacturing. The group was attended by both the operator (TfNSW) and the builder (Hyundai-Rotem). Design development activities fed off extensive user engagement, testing and validating solutions in a full-scale mock-up, and plain old sweating on the details!

The overwhelmingly positive response to Mariyung’s debut confirmed the genuine improvement in passenger experience for all user groups. This was achieved by applying industrial design input across all areas of the project.