| FLIRT | |
|---|---|
| RABe 523 of the Swiss Federal Railways | |
| Power type | Electric |
| Builder | Stadler Rail |
| Build date | since 2004 |
| Total produced | 547 ordered (11/2009) |
| UIC classification | Bo'2'2'2'Bo' (four-section train) |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 1,524 mm (5 ft) |
| Length | 42.066–106.278 m (138 ft 0.1 in–348 ft 8.2 in) |
| Locomotive weight | 76–206 t (75–203 long tons; 84–227 short tons) |
| Top speed | 120–200 km/h (75–124 mph) [usually 160 km/h (99 mph)] |
| Power output | 1,300–4,500 kW (1,700–6,000 hp) |
Stadler FLIRT (Fast Light Innovative Regional Train) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) produced by Stadler Rail AG. The articulated trainset comes in units of two to six cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is 200 km/h. Standard floor height is 57 cm, but 78 cm high floors are also available for platform heights of 76 cm.
The FLIRT train was originally developed for the Swiss Federal Railways and was first delivered in 2004. The trains quickly became a success and were ordered by operators in Algeria, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy and Norway, Poland and Switzerland. In November 2009 the order book stands at 547 sold units.[1].
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The FLIRT is a completely new developed light regional railcar even though it has a striking resemblance with GTW vehicles. The trains can be ordered with two to six sections and are available for all commonly used power system (AC and DC) as well as standard- and broad gauge. Due to the use of jacobs bogies between the sections the whole trains becomes one single cabin that can be walked through. The floor height at the entrances can be chosen by the operator, providing level boarding at most stations. Automatic couplers at both ends of the train allow up to four trains to be connected and disconnected quickly.
All FLIRT variations use IGBT power converters to drive the induction motors located in the two bogies at either end of the train. On the two-section trains, only one bogie is powered, while on longer versions it is possible to have a third powered bogie in the middle (currently only the trains for NSB). Each bogie usually has a continuous power rating of 1000 kW giving a typical four-section train 2000 kW total power output as well as maximum power output of 2600 kW over a short time. Depending on the number of powered bogies, the length and weight, they will reach top speeds between 120 km/h and 200 km/h (typically 160 km/h). Acceleration also varies between 0.8 m/s² and 1.2 m/s².
The Swiss Federal Railways were Stadler's first customer for the FLIRT when they ordered 42 units with options for 100 more in September 2002. The first vehicle was delivered in 2004 for the use on the Stadtbahn Zug.[2]
Meanwhile the Swiss Federal Railways have ordered a total of 117 units that can be broken down into four different types that differ in their equipment for driving in neighboring countries. The base version is the RABe 523 that is used on the Stadtbahn Zug and the RER Lausanne. These 43 four-section units can only be used within Switzerland. The 30 RABe 521 and 14 RABe 522 are versions that can also be used in Germany and France respectively. They also consist of four sections and are used on the Basel S-Bahn. The last version is the Italy-capable RABe 524 that is used in the Ticino. The 19 units of this type already delivered are four-sections long, the eleven units ordered in August 2008 are six-section trains and are additionally equipped with the ETCS Level 2 train control system.[3]
Besides the Swiss Federal Railways two other companies in Switzerland operate FLIRT trains: The Südostbahn uses 11 trains with the designation RABe 526 and the Transports Régionaux Neuchâtelois owns three trains (RABe 527).
The Cantus Verkehrsgesellschaft, a joint subsidiary of Hessische Landesbahn and Hamburger Hochbahn, became the first German FLIRT operator when they received their first train in 2006. Their fleet consists of 14 three-car and 6 four-car units.
Since December 2007 Abellio Rail NRW operates 9 three-car and 8 two-car FLIRT trains for regional routes between Essen, Hagen, Iserlohn and Siegen. This was the first time that a FLIRT with only two sections was ordered.
Also since December 2007 Westfahlenbahn GmbH uses 14 three-car and 5 five-car trains for trains services in the Teutoburg Forest region.
In 2006 DB Regio, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG ordered five five-section vehicles for regional services on the German east coast. The trains were delivered in August 2007 and are now used on the routes Rostock-Stralsund–Lietzow–Sassnitz (Hanse-Express), Sassnitz–Stralsund and Binz–Lietzow.
The biggest order from Germany so far came in October 2006 from the leasing company Angel Trains Europa GmbH when they ordered 25 four-car FLIRT trains. All 25 units have been leased to Eurobahn who uses them on the Hellweg network in North Rhine-Westphalia.[4] Only a year later, in November 2007, Angel Trains ordered 4 more four-car and 14 five-car trains that will also be used by Eurobahn.[5]
On the InnoTrans 2008, a trade fair focused on rail transport, VIAS GmbH announced their order for 12 four-section and 7 three-section units. Starting in December 2010, the trains will be put on the Frankfurt–Koblenz route.[6]
32 four-section FLIRT units, classified as Sm5 in the Finnish system, have been ordered by Pääkaupunkiseudun junakalusto Oy (a joint venture between the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa & Kauniainen and the VR Group) for service on the Helsinki commuter rail network. The Sm5 units will be leased by Pääkaupunkiseudun junakalusto to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council, but they will be operated by the VR Group.[7]
The first Sm5 unit arrived in Finland on 11 November 2008.[8] Following preliminary testing the first unit was displayed to the public in Helsinki on 17 December 2008. During the remainder of on 2008 and for most of 2009 the Sm5 units were extensively tested in different parts of Finland.[9] The first unit entered passenger service on 18 November 2009.[10]
50 Flirt units were ordered by the Norwegian State Railways, with a further 100 on option. Twenty-six units will be used on the Oslo Commuter Rail and the remaining 24 units will be used on regional and express routes.[11]
All trains will have five cars. However, in contrast to previous five-car FLIRTs they will have a third powered bogie giving them a maximum power output of 4500 kW and a top speed of 200 km/h.[12] As of February 2009, trial runs have been made on the Bergen Line, using a SBB-CFF-FFS unit.
Algeria:
Belarus:
Czech Republic:
Hungary:
Poland:
Italy:
Estonia:
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