The RABDe 500 (often nicknamed ICN for Intercity-Neigezug, German for Intercity Tilting Train, the train category for which these trains are used), is a Swiss passenger train which debuted in 2000, in time for Expo.02 held in western Switzerland in 2002. Its maximum speed is 200 km/h, which can be reached on the Mattstetten–Rothrist new line; however, the RABDe 500 is currently (2011) not used on this latter high-speed line (except on the branch to Solothurn). It was a joint development by Bombardier, SBB-CFF-FFS and Alstom, with an aerodynamic body designed by Pininfarina. 44 RABDe 500 with a total of 308 coaches have been delivered to SBB-CFF-FFS from 1999 to 2005.
The RABDe 500 often run with two complete compositions, each with seven carriages, both including a dining car (which actually forms part of 2nd class). Four of the seven carriages are second class. In first class, some compartments boast electric power supply sockets and mobile phone reception enhancers.
The introduction of the RABDe 500 was delayed by a lack of supplies from ADtranz. Nevertheless, its rolling stock was fully in use by the time of the Expo, and now there is enough rolling stock for it be used on several different lines.
The RABDe 500 are operated by Swiss Federal Railways.
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The RABDe 500 were put in service on 28 May 2000, with services from St. Gallen via Winterthur, Zürich and Biel/Bienne to Lausanne.
As of December 2009,[1] the RABDe 500 provide ICN services on the following lines:
Train sets used for the Expo.02 national exposition in Switzerland carried a typewriter-font "permettre le futur" text on the outside of the train along with literary quotes from various prominent Swiss writers. In each train composition, a brief introduction of the featured writer was placed near the door.
The RABDe 500 is an electrical multiple unit - there is no locomotive in the classical sense. The Motors are located under the second class cars (2 front and 2 end cars of each trainset). The firstclass cars and the restaurant car are spared the electrical noises from the asynchronous motors.
The RABDe 500 can operate at up to 200 km/h when under ETCS level 2 supervision, 160 km/h if the line is equipped with conventional signalling.
| Mark | Operator | Seats | Length [mm] | Tare Weight [t] | No of units | Max conti power [MW] | Tilting | Body width [cm] | Body material | Max speed [km/h] | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RABDe 500 | SBB | 431 | 188.800 | 355 | 7 | --- | yes | --- | light alloy | 200 km/h | 2001 |
| ICE 1 | DB | 645 | 357.920 | 779,8 | 12 (excl loco) | 9,6 | no | 302 cm | light alloy (coach) | 280 | 1991 |
| ICE 3 | DB | 415 | 200.320 | 409 | 8 | 8,0 | no | 295 cm | light alloy | 300 | 2000 |
| Thalys | SNCF | 377 | 200.000 | 385 | 10 (excl loco) | 8,8 | no | --- | --- | 300 | 1997 |
| 500 Series | JR | 1.324 | 404.000 | 632 | 16 | 18,24 | no | 338 | light alloy | 300 | 1997 |
All 44 RABDe 500 are named after famous Swiss scholars, artists, writers, politicians, engineers, and architects.[2] Each RABDe 500 bears the portrait of its namesake, painted by a Bernese painter Martin Fivian, in the first class coach No 3; in addition, plaques with short biographical information can be found at every entrance.
List of names:
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