Trans-Europ-Express

Trans Europ Express (TEE, frequently misspelled as Trans -Europe Express referred to ) was a standard for fast trains from 1957 to 1987 between the States of the EEC (European Economic Community), Austria and Switzerland wrong. Features of this standard resulted in only with a cart of the first class. This standard was replaced by the Euro City.

History

In 1954, the Trans - Europ - Express Commission was established with its headquarters in The Hague. This was done on a proposal by Franciscus Querien den Hollander, the then President of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS). The founding members were the national railways of Belgium ( NMBS / SNCB), the Netherlands ( NS), the Federal Republic of Germany (DB), France (SNCF), Italy (FS ), Luxembourg (CFL ) and Switzerland (SBB ). The State Railway of Spain (RENFE ) joined later. The development of common traits was then in the light of national requirements and different power systems are not yet in sight. Common criteria for the vehicles were:

DMUs at 140 km / h, a maximum of 18 t axle load and high running smoothness
Only 1st class, at least 120 seats, not more than three seats per row
Galley
Rooms for passport and customs control while driving
Uniform finish bordeaux / cream

On 2 June 1957, the train has been taken. Since the states involved could not agree on uniform trains, put the State Railways of France ( SNCF) their (X 2700/XRT 7700 (RGP )), Italy (FS ) to 442/448, Germany (DB), the trainsets VT 08.5 and VT 11.5, the Netherlands ( NS) together with Switzerland ( SBB ), the Community development SBB RAm TEE / NS a DE IV own modern DMUs to start. The Belgian State Railways NMBS / SNCB presented later, the Luxembourg CFL no vehicles.

1961 followed by the first electrical multiple SBB RAe TEE II series, which was suitable for four commonly used in business area power systems. In the same year launched cross-border freight trains as TEEM.

To the trains to be able to adjust the passenger numbers were better used by the SNCF in 1963 and at the DB from 1965 in the new TEA compounds fast modern electric locomotives and extra-comfortable first - class cars. SNCF, SNCB and DB used multi-system locomotives for the connections between the Benelux countries, France and Germany. In contrast, the locomotives were regularly, including in Emmerich am Rhein, Basel, Chiasso and on the burner, changed.

1971 almost all the TEE trains were integrated into Germany in the two-hour clock system of the then world-class intercity trains.

1971 derailed the TEE Bavaria in Aitrang in the Allgäu. In this train accident, 28 people died.

1979 many TEA were replaced in Germany by InterCity trains with two classes of cars.

1982, the Lufthansa Airport Express (LHA ) was established between Frankfurt and Dusseldorf Airport airport. He has also performed as a TEE -house of the German Federal Railroad until the summer of 1987. Also 1987 was introduced with the Euro City train type for a new European quality traits with first and second class.

On September 24, 1988 reversed the last TEE between Zurich and Milan. From the following day, he was also as Euro City and a new rolling stock on the go. The five TEA sets were rebuilt. Also in 1993, the only non-stop service between Brussels and Paris trains running Euro City trains were (use of former INOX -DEV - car) one last time under the name " TEA " used, but already with cars first and second class. For the following summer schedule, however, disappeared the product " TEA " in favor of the TGV.

Until 1999, were served II compositions in Switzerland, the TGV connecting trains from Bern on Neuenburg to Frasnian yet been revised RAe SBB TEE.

Since 2003, the wrong color, restored to its original state RAe SBB TEE II for SBB Historic charter and tourist traffic.

2004 was the restoration of a TEE- train through the German railway. The estimated cost of three million euros should be ensured by 90 to 100 trips per year.

Since 2007, operates under the product name TEE Rheingold for the Nuremberg Transport Museum a set TEE cars including a prospect car with two locomotives of the series 103 in charter and tourist flights.

Technology ( Germany )

In Germany, the TEE trains were originally driven primarily by diesel railcar VT 115 series. The trains were on by their streamlined power cars, which initially 1100 hp ( 810 kW) diesel engines Maybach enabled a cruising speed of 140 km / hr. Initially, before the delivery of the VT 11.5 series, also railcar VT series 085 were used. In the seventies, when the trains were longer, four power heads of the now re-drawn in class 601 VT 11.5 were equipped with 2200 hp (1620 kW) gas turbine helicopters. This but not proven, particularly due to high fuel costs.

From 1965 Lok -car teams came with electric locomotives of the series E 03 and E 10:12 to use; The latter were special versions of the E10 series, whose maximum speed had been increased for the TEE service to 160 km / hr. First the trains running since 1962 sets of Rheingold and Rheinpfeil were repainted in the TEE colors, later being bought similar vehicles for other TEE trains. The trains consisted of air-conditioned compartment cars and first-class seating car, a dining car and in many cases an observation car or the Bar Car.

List of TEE-Züge/Verbindungen

Status: train numbers and train movement at the time of setting of the train

Trivia

On 5 October 2006 at the Deutsche Post AG appeared as part of a charity stamp series of four stamps in a stamp with the image of the VT 11.5 to 55 25 euro cents.
The aforementioned frequently encountered incorrect spelling is sometimes the music album called Trans Europe Express and its title song of the same name attributed to that published the German group Kraftwerk in 1977.
Also in 1977 was between Emmerich and Basel SBB in a regular trains running TEE Rheingold (TEE 6/7 ) of the feature film Rheingold by Niklaus Schilling.

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