FS Class E464

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FS class E464

An E464 in Trieste Centrale station
Power type	Electric
Builder	Bombardier
Build date	1996-2007
UIC classification	Bo-Bo
Wheel diameter	1.250 m
Wheelbase	7.540 m between bogies 2.650 m between axles in each bogie
Length	15.750 m
Width	3.000 m
Height	4.100 m
Locomotive weight	72 t
Electric system(s)	3,000 V DC
Traction motors	3-phase asynchronous
Transmission	27/55 and 26/64 gear ratios
Top speed	160 km/h
Power output	4,272 kW
Tractive effort	200 kN
Career	FS Trenitalia, TiLo
Number in class	388
First run	1996
Disposition	in service

The E464 is a class of Italian railways electric locomotives. They were introduced in the course of the 1990s for hauling light trains, especially for commuter service. They were acquired by FS Trenitalia to replace the old E424 and E646, dating to the 1940s and 1950s. The class was originally designed by ABB Trazione, later AdTranz (now part of the Bombardier group) and produced in the Italian plant of Vado Ligure.

Cost per unit is 2.3 millions Euro. With 388 locomotives in service, the E464 is the largest class in use in Italy.

[edit] History

The E464 descends from a project launched by the Italian Ferrovie dello Stato in the 1980s for a "modular" class of locomotives which would be easily adapted to commuter, inter-regional and cargo services. Initially, types with 4-axle (Bo-Bo, E453/E454) and 6-axle (Bo-Bo-Bo, E665/E666) were devised, the latter for cargo services. However, the E666 class was cancelled due to availability of the new E652 Tigre class, capable to haul massive cargo trains. However, when released, the new inverter technology was born, and the E454 became suddenly obsolete.

In 1994 FS requested ABB to design a new class which, to save money, was to be based on the already built prototypes and using parts from the new E412 from the same producer. The first batch of 50 E464 was issued to the Lazio regional government in 1999-2000, and proved immediately successful. Further orders for 90, 100 and 48 units followed in 2001-2005, plus other 100 in 2006-2007, for an investment of c. one billion Euro.

[edit] Techonology

The E464 were the first Italian locomotives provided with an automatic Scharfenberg coupling system, capable of forming trains rapidly. The hull is steel with aluminum ceiling, in the white-green standard livery of FS Trenitalia.

The locomotive uses a simplified board electronics, with two GTO choppers which provide a variable voltage to the two inverters, that are used to feed the 4 three-phase asynchronous motors. The motors employ a double-star type connection; if a traction inverter is excluded (i.e. due to a failure) the motors use a delta-type connection and are feed by only one inverter. During braking the motors can be used as generators in order to recover electric energy (regenerative braking), but since Italian railway power substations are not able to receive energy (they are not reversible), this method only works if there are other trains nearby absorbing current and line voltage is lower than 4000 V. Otherwhise, the power is dissipated through a braking rheostat. It is the vehicle logic that checks if these conditions are meet, and that decides to send the current in line or to the rheostat.

Two static converters (often referred to as BUR) output an 450 V 60 Hz AC voltage that feeds the auxiliary systems, which include the compressors, 24 V battery recharger, rheostat ventilation fans, motors fans, etc. Usually BUR n.1 feeds only the latters and other cooling devices, with a 352 V 58 Hz voltage, while BUR2 the rest; in case of failure of one BUR one of the three motor fans is deactivated automatically and the system is feed at 450 V 60 Hz by the remaining one.

Braking systems include, other than the regenerative/rheostatic braking, disc-type brakes activated by compressed air; to completely immobilize the locomotive, when stationed (and if this condition lasts for a prolongued time, air may run out, therefore releasing brakes), the spring brake is activated.

The coupling system allows, in case of emergency, to couple up to 4 locomotives for hauling heavy trains, for a total of 14,000 kW (more than one TGV); the E464 can be coupled with other modern types, like the E402.

The locomotive is provided with a secondary driving cabin with reduced instrumentation in the rear area, for short range maneuvers in station (maximum speed allowed: 30 km/h).

[edit] Other users

Bombardier is currently producing 60 units especially adapted for being used with the new Vivalto two-floor coaches

Apart FS-Trenitalia (whose engines are often possessed by regional authorities), E464 is used in Lombardy by the Italo-Swiss company TiLo, which operates services between Italy and Canton Ticino.

[edit] References

• "80 anni di locomotive elettriche FS in CC" (2006). Tuttotreno Tema (21). Duegi. 
• "E464" (July/August 2002). Tuttotreno (155). Duegi.