SBB-CFF-FFS RABDe 500

Disc brakes magnetic brake

Integra SIGNUM, fitted ETCS from 2003

The RABDe 500 is an electric multiple unit with active railway arch -controlled tilting technology, the (SBB ) is used in the type of train ICN ( InterCity tilting train ) in long-distance transport of the Swiss Federal Railways. Although RABDe 500 sets occasionally also be used in inter-regional and regional express courses that Zuggattungsbezeichnung InterCity tilting train and the abbreviation ICN are also frequently used to refer to the type of vehicle RABDe 500.

History

After the original 1987 agreement Concept Train & Bus in 2000 should make the necessary travel time reductions are made possible exclusively through infrastructure measures. 1992 showed, however, that the cost of new lines have been underestimated. A general review and revision of the concept was needed. In July 1993, a revised version of the concept was presented. New routes should be built only where an increase in capacity was mandatory, or where tunnel profiles no longer met the requirements. At the foot of the Jura and between Winterthur and St. Gallen the necessary travel time reductions, therefore, had to be achieved through the use of tilting trains.

Instead of the originally planned drawn by locomotives trains with Re 460 locomotives and re- storey car beschaffendem material now were on the one hand tilting trains, on the other hand needed for reasons of capacity double-deck cars. Initially no precise technical requirements have been provided for the construction of the tilting trains, but now the manufacturer had to adhere to certain standards. It was also no longer a certain number of a certain type traction motors requires the manufacturer has now define which route profiles are taken into account. Also in the command and the train radio producers were made ​​specifications. Thus, the specification has been extensive. In 1995, the SBB from a tender procedure, which had to be terminated unsuccessfully with a large media coverage. In a second tender process could bring better offers five companies, so that the SBB on July 2, 1996, the concept Train & Bus in 2000 in the first series of 24 seven-part InterCity tilting trains called RABDe 500 at Adtranz, FIAT -SIG and SWG for could order 497 million francs. The delivery of this unit trains began in 1999. At that time the prototype was still in the possession of the manufacturer and has been used for experimental and instructional trips. Today there are 44 train sets in this series.

In the course of founded in June 2000 TEE Rail Alliance SBB had promised to convert the trains for coupling and multiple traction operation with ICE T and ICE TD. This commitment was subsequently withdrawn. In June 2001, the Swiss Railways ordered 10 more trains and agreed an option for an additional 10 trains, which was pulled in December 2001 with the new manufacturer consortium of Bombardier Transportation and Alstom rail transport. The contract value was approximately 220 ( without option ) or about 420 million Swiss francs ( with option).

Compared with conventional rolling stock, the advantage of tilting trains is the travel time reduction on winding roads. Due to the heavy traffic between Winterthur and the Lenzburg RABDe go there with 500 conventional speed. On the other routes the trains run at about 10 to 20 % increased speed.

A disadvantage is the in comparison to previous models such as the Mark IV poorer ride comfort. The available space is severely limited, especially for tall people, on the one hand by the principle caused by the tilting smaller cross-sectional profile, the other by a significant compression of the rows of seats. This is accompanied by a reduction of storage space for luggage. Also poorer performance has been achieved in the running, the car clearly show stronger side motions than the previous generation, and in height approximately halved window no longer convey the open, generous outlook as before.

Technical

The tilt drive is accomplished electrically. The first bogie is equipped with gyroscopes and accelerometers. The resulting data is delivered to an optimal angle of inclination equivalent, which can be up to 8 degrees. The tendency is also transmitted to the pantograph, which must tend oppositely. The trainset is approved for a maximum speed of 200 km / h, making it suitable for new lines within the project Rail 2000. Also the ETCS Level 2, which is required for the maximum speed on the new line is present: while the first series was upgraded, the system is present in the second series from the factory.

The seven -car trainsets have automatic BSI couplings and form a double composition an almost 380 m long train. Most ICN be performed in this manner. In case of need, mostly for maintenance work of the trainset can be separated into two autonomous halfmoves by semi-automatic couplings - the traction equipment of a Halbzugs each forms a unit, while the A- car in the middle of the train does not contain any traction relevant elements. At the ends of the train two cars are fitted with two -phase asynchronous motors, the cars Nos. 2 and 6 also take advantage of the GTO inverter of the respective Halbzugs on. The "third" car ( in a half-move the AD, in the other half move the WRA ) contains the transformer of the Halbzugs and is easy to see at the pantograph. The traction equipment meets - except for the water-cooled GTO converters - largely that of the locomotive in 2000, even if it is distributed in this case about three cars. A special feature of the regenerative braking mode is to mention that supplies in the absence of primary voltage by slightly regenerative braking, the auxiliaries and the tilting technology with performance.

Come per trainset five different types of wagons used: Four second- class coaches, two of them as drivers driving car, a Erstklasswagen, half dining car with Erstklassabteilen and a Erstklasswagen with a service and a luggage compartment. Before the general smoking ban a second- and a first- class carriage for smokers were released respectively. While cars are available only metropolitan area in the second class, there are in first class compartments also - this was necessary because under the current collectors, the ceiling height was not sufficient. Following the SBB tradition, the seats are located in the metropolitan area of ​​car mainly in groups of four, and there are also a few rows in aircraft seating. In total there are 125 seats in the first and 326 in the second grade.

Stretch

The RABDe 500 operate on the following routes:

  • St. Gallen- Zurich HB - Biel / Bienne - Lausanne / Geneva
  • Basel SBB - Delsberg - Biel / Bienne - Neuchâtel - Lausanne / Geneva
  • Basel SBB - Luzern / Zurich HB - Bellinzona - Lugano - Chiasso
  • Basel SBB / Zurich HB - Sargans - Chur

Naming of multiple units

Each train set has a different name. The patron saints are prominent Swiss personalities, of which quotations are mounted in the subdivided compartments above the windows.

1st series

ICN 500 022 " Expo 02 " Carl Spitteler and Hermann Hesse dedicated.

2nd series

Reservations subject to bicycles

Six bicycles can be transported in any RABDe 500 - unit, this is provided in both end cars ( between the first entrance door and the cab ) Three hangers available. In a double header a total of 12 bicycles can thus be transported per train. However, in order to ICN trains have a relatively low drag capacity for bicycles in contrast to conventional SBB train sets. Therefore, already was during Expo 02 ( 15 May to 20 October 2002) a total bike ban in ICN trains. To avoid capacity bottlenecks in the coming years, led the SBB April 1, 2003, a general compulsory reservation for the ICN trains with a bicycle in a.

However, this rule only applies in the cycling season ( in the introduction from 1 April 2003 to 31 October, since 2004 each from 21 March to 31 October of the calendar year ). Outside this period may bicycles be transported without reservation in the ICN. This scheme then presented a special feature, because otherwise could hitherto in all other trains in Switzerland (where the bicycle transportation was offered in principle ) Bicycles without parking space reservations are taken. The reservation for bicycles in the ICN is not included in the price of bicycle map with you: It has an additional booking fee of five Swiss francs to be paid; this fee equal to the fee a normal seat reservation. The reservation can be made no later than 15 minutes before departure of the desired ICN train.

Despite massive protests of passengers ( especially in the initial time), this regulation applies today. If a passenger is found with bicycle without reservation document in an ICN train, a penalty fee of 15 Swiss francs ( reservation fee plus fee for the train ticket ) will be levied. Exception: an inverted RABDe -500 set as Interregio (IR) or Regional Express ( RE) does not apply to compulsory reservation for bikes. Meanwhile, however, the reservation scheme applies to no longer exclusive only to ICN trains, because the introduced in June 2007 with a bicycle in the TGV also subject to compulsory reservation, even if the TGV in question is only used in the Swiss domestic traffic.

Special

  • On July 29, 2001, came on the line St. Gallen - Geneva at a derailment of the train RABDe 500 019 In Room Winterthur attaching the torque arm of the transmission axis was aborted at the rear bogie. Thus, the propeller shaft was demolished, leading to the derailment just before the Zurich Oerlikon railway station. In this derailment were not seriously injured to complain. After a further similar, but discovered early case, the entire ICN fleet was shut down from August 13, 2001 for a week, and all the bolts in the bogies controlled.
  • In Geneva train station came on 23 May 2002, a fire in the dining car of the train 500 004, caused by a short circuit. The damage was so great that the dining car had to be completely rebuilt.
  • The RABDe 500 bear the names of prominent Swiss personalities (such as Le Corbusier, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Mani Matter or Annemarie Schwarzenbach ).
  • Chance also trains the train types Interregio be (IR) and Regional Express ( RE) with RABDe 500 down.
  • The RABDe 500 have no foreign registration; the only one not farm on Swiss soil Constance train station is approached.
  • In the opening credits of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory an ICN appears.
Functional specification Lake Biel Twann Compartment coach Lucerne Jean Piaget Johanna Spyri Albert Einstein Vincenzo Vela Robert Walser (writer) Blaise Cendrars Denis de Rougemont Max Frisch Alice Rivaz Willi Ritschard Friedrich Glauser Jeanne Hersch Jeremias Gotthelf Alfred Escher Eduard Spelterini Louis Chevrolet Louis Favre Henri Dufaux Gallus Jacob Baumgartner Niklaus Riggenbach Arthur Honegger Auguste Piccard Harald Szeemann Konstanz station List of stock used by Swiss Federal Railways
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