ČD Class 680

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.

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.

Formation

The seven car units consist of:

• Class 681 Driving Motor First
• Class 081 Trailer First
• Class 683 Motor Buffet Second
• Class 084 Trailer Second
• Class 684 Motor Second
• Class 082 Trailer Second
• Class 682 Driving Motor First

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

Operations

ČD Supercity Pendolino
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.

In 2009 and 2011, one pair of ČD 680 operated as SuperCity Slovenská Strela between Prague and Bratislava. However, it was cancelled due to a low demand, since the train was not actually faster, but more expensive.^[2]

schedule 2015:

• ČD pendolinos operate 9 times a day each direction on the route Prague-Pardubice-Olomouc-Ostrava, with some continuing to Bohumín and one continuing to Slovakia, the city of Košice. Twice a day the service is extended from Prague to Františkovy Lázně via Plzeň.^[3]

Accidents

• On December 1, 2007 a Pendolino derailed in Prague. No one was injured but the train was severely damaged.^[4]
• On July 22, 2015 – Studénka train crash 2015, train SC 512 Pendolino on its way from Bohumín – Františkovy Lázně collided with a truck on a rail crossing. Three passengers died and 17 people were injured.

See also

• List of ČD Classes
• List of high speed trains

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ČD Class 680.

References

External links

• Atlas Lokomotiv Website Czech
• Website about 680 class Czech
• fansite Czech