DR Class 270
| DR Class 270 DBAG Class 485/885 | |
|---|---|
|
DBAG Class 485 at Berlin Prenzlauer Allee station | |
| Manufacturer | AEG/Adtranz/Bombardier Hennigsdorf |
| Constructed |
1987 (pilot series), 1990–1992 |
| Number built |
166 power cars, 166 trailer cars |
| Operator |
Deutsche Bahn AG Berlin S-Bahn |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 36.2 m (118 ft 9 in) |
| Maximum speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) |
| Weight | 59 t (58 long tons; 65 short tons) |
| Electric system(s) | 750 DC |
| Current collection method | Third rail DC, |
| UIC classification | Bo'Bo'+2'2' |
| Safety system(s) | mechanical train stop |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The DR Class 270 is a electric multiple unit train for the Berlin S-Bahn. The class 270 was designed for Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) to replace the aging rail cars in East Berlin. Pilot runs were starting in 1987 and the first batch delivered since 1990. After German reunification they were reclassified as DBAG Class 485 and a second batch was cancelled in favour of a new design DBAG Class 481.
History
In the 1980 most of the rail cars were still composed of mostly Class 475, 476 and 477 vehicles from before World War II. Both the West Berlin and East Berlin S-Bahn operators were looking into options to replace their aging fleet. In East Germany the LEW Hennigsdorf locomotive works were tasked with a new construction and the new design was presented in 1980 on the Leipzig Trade Fair. However it took until 1987 that an initial batch of eight cars was built for pilot runs on the S-Bahn network entering regular passenger service in 1988.
Originally it was planned to build 300 rail cars of this type to completely replace the older vehicles. The delivery was cancelled in 1992 after 170 rail cars. The new unified S-Bahn was planning for a new train type at the time showing a mock-up in 1993 and the DBAG Class 481 to enter service in 1996. The new Class 481 was meant to replace all the old rail cars so that this Class 485 was decommissioned since 2003 with 50 trains being disassembled in 2007/2008. Due to technical problems of the new Class 481 a number of these Class 485 were reactivated however in 2009 - since 2012 there is a fleet of 80 Class 485 still in service. Currently the Berlin S-Bahn network switches to a modern train safety system, the ZBS train control being based on Eurobalises. This Class 485 will not be equipped with the corresponding train-born safety equipment so they will be withdrawn from the S-Bahn network by about 2017.
External links
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Media related to Berlin S-Bahn train type 485 at Wikimedia Commons
References
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