Stadler FLIRT

FLIRT

RABe 522 of the Swiss Federal Railways
Type and origin
Power type Electric, Diesel
Builder Stadler Rail
Build date since 2004
Total produced 910 trains ordered (8/2013)
Specifications
UIC classification Bo'2'2'2'Bo' (four-section train)
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
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)
Performance figures
Maximum 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 (120 mph). Standard floor height is 57 cm (22.4 in), but 78 cm (30.7 in) high floors are also available for platform heights of 76 cm (29.9 in).

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, Belarus, the Czech Republic,[1] Estonia, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland. As of February 2015, 1094 units have been sold.[2]

Specifications

The FLIRT is a new generation of electric multiple units, even though it has a striking resemblance with GTW vehicles. The trains can have two to six sections and are available for all commonly used power supply systems (AC and DC) as well as standard and broad gauge. It has jacobs bogies between the individual sections, with wide walk-through gangways. The floor height at the entrances can be chosen by the operator, providing level boarding at most stations. Automatic couplers of either Schwab type (on all Swiss units) or Scharfenberg type at both ends of the train allow up to four trains to be connected.

All FLIRT variations use IGBT based traction converters from ABB, which 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 1,000 kW (1,300 hp) giving a typical four-section train 2,000 kW (2,700 hp) total power output as well as maximum power output of 2,600 kW (3,500 hp) over a short time. Depending on the number of powered bogies, the length and weight, they will reach top speeds between 120 and 200 km/h (75 and 124 mph) (typically 160 km/h or 99 mph). Acceleration also varies between 0.8 and 1.2 m/s2 (2.6 and 3.9 ft/s2).

Operators

Switzerland

Stadler FLIRT of the Swiss Südostbahn on Seedamm

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.[3]

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/ETR 150 that is used on Treni Regionali Ticino Lombardia (TILO) services in Ticino and northern Italy. The first 19 units of this type to be delivered were four-sections long, and were followed by eleven units ordered that six-sections long and are additionally equipped with the ETCS Level 2 train control system.[4]

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).

Algeria

SNTF[5]

Belarus

10 units to the Belarusian Railways[6] delivered 2011. 6 more to be delivered 2013-2014.[7]

Czech Republic

Stadler FLIRT of Czech private rail operator LeoExpress on the test circuit in Cerhenice, the Czech Republic

The Czech private operator LEO Express ordered 5 units.[1] Units are modified as InterCity trains. All 5 units have operated on the Prague–Ostrava line since December 2012. Since December 2014 one unit is operated on the Prague–Košice (Slovak Republic). The maximum speed of these units is 189 km/h (117 mph), but in service it is limited to 160 km/h (99 mph).

Estonia

Estonian Stadler FLIRT EMU 1401

Elron ordered 18 electric and 20 diesel broad-gauged trains. By June 2014 all 38 trains were delivered. This has been the first time FLIRT DMU-s were produced.[8] First five trains went into service on 1 July 2013 and by January 2014 all old trains were replaced by the new ones. On 16 April 2014 one of the new DMU-s that had been operating for just 5 months had an accident near Raasiku. The unit was badly damaged. It will go back into service by 2015 when the two damaged carriages will be replaced with new ones.[9] Elron investigation initiated in November 2014. There were suspicions that some DMU-s might have design faults. Two serious design flaws were found. [10]

Finland

Sm5 class EMU in Riihimäki
Main article: JKOY Class Sm5

75 four-section broad-gauged 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.[11] The initial order in 2006 was for 32 trainsets. Nine further units were ordered in 2011 and 34 further units in 2014.[12]

The first Sm5 unit arrived in Finland on 11 November 2008.[13] 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.[14] The first unit entered passenger service on 18 November 2009.[15]

Germany

FLIRT of Westfalenbahn
FLIRT of DB Regio

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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Hungary

Hungarian State Railways FLIRT

Italy

ETR 340 unit in Italy.

In Italy FLIRT are used by six regional railways, in total units ordered and built are so divided among the following companies:

Ferrovie del Gargano: name ETR 330, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed 160 km / h. Fleet: three units.[24]

Ferrotramviaria: name ETR 340, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed 160 km / h. Fleet: four units.[25]

SAD used on Val Pusteria Railway name ETR 155 and ETR 170. C.a dual voltage 15 kV / 3 kV cc. Fleet: four units (ETR 155) and four units (ETR 170), In July 2011 have been ordered eight new units for routes within the jurisdiction of SAD.[26]

Sistemi Territoriali: name ETR 340, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed 160 km / h [10]. Fleet: two units from 2008,[27] four and sixteen FLIRT ordered in 2009. The FLIRT ordered in 2009 will be built in conjunction with the AnsaldoBreda: the Stadler Rail will carry vehicles head of convoys, systems of traction and onboard auxiliary, the bogies and bearing while AnsaldoBreda realize intermediate cars, the staging and the final composition of the train and the delivery to the operators at the plant in Pistoia.[28]

Tilo (Switzerland / Italy):[29] RABe 524/ETR 150 C.a dual voltage 15 kV / 3 kV cc. Maximum speed 160 km / h. The first 19 units of this type to be delivered were four-sections long, and were followed by eleven units ordered that six-sections long and are additionally equipped with the ETCS Level 2 train control system.[4]

Ferrovie Emilia Romagna: twelve units, in conjunction with the construction AnsaldoBreda: the Stadler Rail will carry out the head of the convoys of vehicles, systems, traction and onboard auxiliary, engines and carriages bearing while AnsaldoBreda carry out intermediate cars, the staging and the final composition of the train and the delivery to the operators at the plant in Pistoia.[28][30]

Latvia

On 01.07.2014 Latvian rail operator Pasažieru vilciens announced that it will purchase Stadler trains.[31]

Norway

The Stadler Flirt for NSB Railways at Innotrans 2010

50 Flirt units were ordered by the Norwegian State Railways (NSB), 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.[32] During spring and summer 2012 all Flirt trains used by NSB are to be fitted with free wireless Internet access for the passengers. In the NSB system, the FLIRT trains are classified as "class 74" for regional trainsets and "class 75" for local trainsets.

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 4,500 kW (6,000 hp) and a top speed of 200 km/h (120 mph).[33] Trial runs started on the Bergen Line in 2009, using a SBB-CFF-FFS unit. The first units were scheduled to enter passenger service on 29 February 2012. The FLIRT's introduction was put on hold after a unit derailed during tests by NSB on 15 February 2012, injuring five people.[34] The train had been entering a bend at 135 km/h (84 mph) instead of the allowed maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph).[35] The train driver was convicted of negligence but given a conditional discharge by the court who also faulted the lack of safety systems that could catch the driver's error.[36]

The first train entered into regular service on 2 May 2012 on the line from Skien to Lillehammer.[37]

Local class 75 trains are configured with five seats (2+3) abreast. The class 74 regional trains were also delivered with 2+3 seating on regional trains except in the premium "Komfort" section that had 2+2 seating. Significant passengers complaints over cramped seating led NSB to reconfigure the regional trains into 2+2 seating during 2014.[38]

These fleets will have 800mm floor without steps. Since many Norwegian platforms are too low to access to these fleets, they will have to be raised to 550mm platform height[39] to be accessible. These fleets cannot operate for low platform lines (e.g. Bergen Line, Sørlandet Line west of Kongsberg, Dovre Line north of Lillehammer). Raised platforms will be matched with conventional train steps, hence vertical gaps between this fleet and platforms will remain.

Poland

Koleje Mazowieckie in 2008 bought 10 four-car 3kV DC units for services in the Warsaw region. Koleje Śląskie (KŚ) bought 4 four-car 3kV DC units for service in Silesia. Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna[40] (ŁKA) in 2012 ordered 20 two-car units for service in the region around Łódź, for delivery by February 2015.[41] PKP Intercity in August 2013 ordered 20 eight-car 3kV DC units with interiors for long distance travel and top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), for service on four long distance routes in Poland, from a consortium of Stadler Polska and Newag for delivery by October 2015.[42]

Serbia

FLIRT3 Class 413 of Serbian Railways on display at Innotrans 2014

Serbian Railways have ordered 21 FLIRT3 EMUs for regional traffic. The vehicles are expected to be delivered between 2014 and 2015.[43] Trains will be numbered ŽS 413/417.[44]

Sweden

The Hong Kong-based operator MTR has started a Swedish subsidiary (MTR Express) and ordered 6 Flirt EMU for inter-city operation between Stockholm and Gothenburg. They are very similar to the Norwegian units, maximum 200 km/h, but have more comfortable seats aimed for longer distances, and a small café area. The first unit was delivered November 2014. They are expected to start customer operation in March 2015.[45]

Transitio has in 2014 signed an agreement with Stadler, CAF and Bombardier, that these three companies will get orders for regional and local trains during 2015-2021. Transitio is a train purchasing company owned by the regional transport authorities in Sweden.

Gallery

See also

References

Sources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vlaky Leo Express budou černo-zlaté a vyjdou o třetinu levněji než pendolino" (in Czech). 11 December 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/ns-confirms-direct-order-for-58-stadler-emus.html
  3. ↑ "Ein FLIRT für die Stadt Zug und die S-Bahn Basel" (Press release) (in German). Stadler Rail. 27 September 2002. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bruno Lämmli. "SBB CFF FFS RABe 521 - 524" (in German). Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "Stadler wins Alger contract". Railway Gazette International. 1 May 2006.
  6. ↑ Stadler wins in Belarus
  7. ↑ More Flirts for Belarus
  8. ↑ "Elektriraudtee orders Stadler Flirt trains". Railway Gazette International. 12 April 2010.
  9. ↑ "FOTOD ja VIDEO: Tallinna-Tartu rongile sõitis veoauto sisse, hukkus kaks inimest, vigastada sai 12 inimest". Delfi. 16 April 2014.
  10. ↑ http://arileht.delfi.ee/news/uudised/stadleri-praakrongid-majandusminister-palo-kohtub-elroni-juhiga.d?id=70188389
  11. ↑ "Electric low-floor multiple unit FLIRT: Sm5 trains for Junakalusto Oy, Finland" (PDF). Stadler Rail. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  12. ↑ "34 new Flirt trains for commuter train services". HSL. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "SRS uutiset 2008" (in Finnish). Suomen raitiotieseura. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  14. ↑ "Uusi Sm5 toimii kuin junan vessa". HS.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "Uusi kaupunkijuna liikenteeseen" (in Finnish). Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  16. ↑ "Major order for Stadler Pankow". Stadler Rail. 18 October 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  17. ↑ "Eurobahn signs operating contract". Railway Gazette International. 25 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "World rolling stock market November 2008". Railway Gazette. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  19. ↑ "Budapest Flirt depot inaugurated". Railway Gazette International. 2 June 2007.
  20. ↑ "GySEV orders Flirts for upgraded line". Railway Gazette International. 18 April 2012.
  21. ↑ "Szolgálatban az első GYSEV FLIRT motorvonatok". GySEV/Raaberbahn. 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  22. ↑ "Megérkezett az első két kék FLIRT". RegionalBahn. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  23. ↑ "Megérkezett az első két új FLIRT motorvonat". Elvira. MÁV-Start. 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  24. ↑ http://www.stadlerrail.com/media/uploads/factsheets/FLIRT_Gargano_it.pdf
  25. ↑ http://www.stadlerrail.com/media/uploads/factsheets/FLIRT_Ferrotramviaria_i.pdf
  26. ↑ http://altoadige.gelocal.it/cronaca/2011/07/07/news/ferrovie-widmann-in-svizzera-per-l-acquisto-di-nuovi-convogli-1.4259068
  27. ↑ http://www.stadlerrail.com/media/uploads/factsheets/FLIRT_ST_it.pdf
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 http://www.stadlerrail.com/it/news/2009/11/06/stadler-e-ansaldobreda-si-aggiudicano-la-gara-per-/
  29. ↑ http://www.tilo.ch/it/164/chi_siamo.aspx
  30. ↑ Stadler/AnsaldoBreda win the tender for new trains in the Veneto and Emilia Romagna regions
  31. ↑ http://www.pv.lv/images/userfiles/presei/jauno_vilcienu_rezultati.docx
  32. ↑ "NSB selects Stadler for largest train order". Railway Gazette International. 20 August 2008.
  33. ↑ "FLIRT for the Norwegian State Railways Datasheet" (PDF). Stadler Rail AG. Retrieved 27 November 2005.
  34. ↑ "NSB stanser nye supertog etter ulykken" (in Norwegian). 15 February 2012.
  35. ↑ "Flirt-toget kjørte i 135 km/t i 70-sonen". Aftenposten. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  36. ↑ Indreiten, Aina Beate; Stensholt, Anette Dotseth (6 June 2014). "Dømmes, men slipper straff" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  37. ↑ "Dette blir bedre med de nye Flirt-togene". Teknisk Ukeblad. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  38. ↑ Garathun, Mari Gisvold (11 March 2014). "Mot slutten av sommeren vil alle setene på Flirt-togene være komfortseter" (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  39. ↑ Also in Poland, low platforms have been raised during Polish Flirt delivery.
  40. ↑ pl:Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna
  41. ↑ http://www.stadlerrail.pl/media/uploads/F3L0513p_.pdf
  42. ↑ Railway Gazette International, 28 August 2013, 'Stadler and Newag win PKP Intercity order,' http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/stadler-and-newag-win-pkp-intercity-train-order.html?sword_list
  43. ↑ "Stadler flirting in Serbia". Stadler Rail. 4 March 2013.
  44. ↑ "FLIRT electrical low-floor multiple-unit trains" (PDF). Stadler Rail. 19 June 2014.
  45. ↑ http://www.mtrexpress.se/

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