ČD Class 680

ČD Class 680

Pendolino 680 007 at the main railway station in Czech capital Prague
Manufacturer Alstom (ex Fiat Ferroviaria)
Family name Pendolino
Constructed 2004
Entered service 2006
Number built Seven 7-car sets
Formation see text
Operator České dráhy
Specifications
Train length 185.3 m (607 ft 11 in)
Maximum speed 230 km/h (140 mph)
Weight 384.0 t (846,600 lb)
Power output Eight 490 kW (660 hp) traction motors, 3,920 kW (5,260 hp) total
Electric system(s) 25 kV 50 Hz AC
15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz AC
3,000 V DC
Current collection method Pantograph
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

ČD Class 680 are electric multiple units used in the Czech Republic, using tilting Pendolino technology. Built by Alstom (ex Fiat Ferroviaria) they were largely based on 9-car ETR 470. While testing from Břeclav to Brno on November 18, 2004, the Pendolino reached a speed of 237 km/h and created a new Czech railway speed record.[1] The units are equipped to work on 25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz AC and 3,000 V DC.

View of the Second Class interior

History

The initial Czech order for tilting trains was placed with Fiat Ferroviaria during 2000. As part of the Alstom take over of Fiat Ferroviaria the order was changed to Pendolino trains. The first set was delivered in 2004 as Pendolino ČD 680.

During the testing period, the train had problems with the Czech signalling system. The problems were said to be solved and the trains entered regular service in December 2005 between Prague and Ostrava. As of late January 2006, all five Czech Pendolino trains that had been put in service suffered from software and functional problems. The range of problems was spanning from failing air conditioning and heating, to failures of the tilting control. The supposedly ERTMS compliant control system ATLAS is not able to properly join several discrete systems each based on different software platforms. Similar problems have also been reported with Finnish VR Class Sm3. All problems were fixed.

Formation

The seven car units consist of:

Cars are individually numbered, with the driving cars carrying their numbers on their noses.

Events

On December 1, 2007 a Pendolino derailed in Prague. No one was injured but the train was severely damaged.[2]

The train was featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. While in reality the Czech Pendolino does not actually operate the route, in the movie it was shown to journey from Switzerland to Montenegro. In the 2008 movie Wanted, the train was featured with real Czech Railways logo and equipment.

Operations

ČD Supercity Pendolino
Legend
 0km Františkovy Lázně
 7km Cheb
 37km Mariánské Lázně
 49km Planá u Mariánských Lázní
 80km Stříbro
 113km Plzeň hl.n.
 222km Praha Smíchov
 226km Praha hl.n.
 330km Pardubice hl.n.
 476km Olomouc hl.n.
 577km Ostrava Svinov
 582km Ostrava hl.n.
 590km Bohumín

In December 2006 Czech Pendolinos were given permission to operate in Slovakia and Austria.

schedule 2012:

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ČD Class 680.

References

  1. ↑ martin (2005-02-17). "Portál Pendolino.cz - 237 km/h: Nový rychlostní rekord české železnice". Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  2. ↑ "Pendolino v Praze vykolejilo na poškozené kolejnici" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.scpendolino.cz/cs_CZ/kdy-kde-jede/jizdni-rad-sc-pendolino-2010/:/page.xhtml

External links