SBB-CFF-FFS RABe 514

The RABe 514 is a four-part double-decker ( DTZ ) of the SBB for the Zurich S-Bahn from our family of Siemens Desiro Double Deck.

Construction and commissioning

On February 23, 2003, the Board of Directors of SBB decided for the job at Siemens Transportation Systems, which had a value of CHF 447 million for the first 35 trainsets ordered. This decision came relatively surprising since Siemens had previously produced no double-decker trains. Exception is the railcar 445 in consortium with the DWA Goerlitz ( now Bombardier Transportation), but never went into production.

Prior to delivery of the first new vehicle, first difficulties stood out because Siemens was not associated with the production at the Prague able to fulfill the contracted value in Switzerland alone with the award of the interior of the middle car to Stadler Rail in Altenrhein. As Siemens Inbetriebsetzungsort Rorschach was selected. In addition, in the air conditioning had to be overcome some challenges. On 2 December 2005 the Zurich public was first granted insight into the first composition at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof. To May 2006, an intensive test operation took place at the railway test ring Velim and RTA Vienna before the first compositions were handed over to the regular traffic.

Vehicle

The DTZ form the second generation of vehicles at the Zurich S -Bahn and supplement since 2006, the first generation in the form of double-decker commuter trains (DPZ ). Against these have the DTZ on low-floor entrances, vehicle air conditioning and on-board toilets with bioreactor. The double-leaf external doors are disabled supplemented with Shifts rides.

The four-part multiple unit train consisting of two power cars and two intermediate car is driven in the two power cars of asynchronous motors. There are a total of eight driven axles with 400 kW each. Both power heads each have a pantograph on the contact wire must be applied, since for reasons of space no 15 kV roof line is present.

Equipment

The double-deck trainsets ( DTZ ) has 74 seats in first class, 304 seats in the second class, and 600 standing places. The seats of the first class are provided with outlets for laptops (230 V, 50 Hz), but these were shut down in 2008 due to problems with the auxiliary converter ( HBU ). Under unfavorable conditions, an excessive voltage could be issued, which could damage the connected devices. The end of 2008, a test operation with new software was carried out on the HBU on three compositions. As a result the entire fleet has been retrofitted.

Use

The DTZ come to S -Bahn lines are used, which are already operated by DPZ. The freed up DPZ strengthen further trains and to the still with RABDe 510 ( Mirage) and RBe 540 - Pendelzuggarnituren accept operated lines, provided that the offer also already planned extensions permit.

The RABe 514 were used from the end of May / beginning of June 2006 exclusively in trial operation on the S14 ( Hinwil - Zurich HB). From the timetable change in December 2006, the first nine compositions that have been removed from the SBB, used on the S7 ( Rapperswil- Zurich -Winterthur ) scheduled routes. Other compositions came after their arrival, until final acceptance by the SBB, continuing to add to the S14 to use and were classified according to decrease in the control stock. In peak times, if not all compositions have been required on the S7, individual compositions came by exchanging in Rapperswil on the S15 are used.

Originally, the DTZ should coupled with DPZ are used, among other things, what, was already in the development phase to a major technical problem due to the low cost proprietary Vielfachsteuerung the DPZ, which is also no longer produced. In order not to jeopardize the use, was taken from this project distance and made a type- pure feeds on the lines S5 and S7 in the foreground. In opposition to this plan had to be made and the use on the S5 are further back one more change. In case of problems with the availability of vehicles individual compositions or the entire train could be exchanged at the ends of S7 in Winterthur and Rapperswil, which in Rafz respectively Niederweningen not only difficult at the endpoints of S5 in Pfäffikon and possible. By the early use on the S7 was hoped to increase the vehicle's reliability so far that no unplanned substitutions are necessary or even cancellations are to be deplored.

Since May 2008, the DTZ also be used on the S15 with DPZ and RBe 540 - commuting in mixed mode, in addition, they came on weekends for the first time on the S8 for use; since the summer of 2008, the S8 is integrally powered by DTZ.

Trivia

Of the 61 train sets were originally only 60 ordered: Since Siemens could not meet the delivery was supplied free of charge instead of a penalty, an additional composition.