Belgian Railways Classical twin EMUs
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| NMBS/SNCB Classical twin EMUs | |
|---|---|
 NMBS/SNCB EMU AM 174 in Liège Guillemins Station | |
 2nd class original interior | |
| In service | 1939–2024 |
| Manufacturer | La Brugeoise et Nivelles, ACEC, Ateliers Germain, Usines Ragheno |
| Built at | Braine-le-Comte, Bruges, Charleroi, Mechelen |
| Constructed | 1939–1980 |
| Refurbished | 1999–2008 |
| Scrapped | 1978–2024 |
| Number built | 497 (not in service at the same time) |
| Number in service | 0 |
| Formation | EMC-EMS |
| Capacity | 118 to 185, depending on series |
| Operators | NMBS/SNCB |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 44.4 m (145 ft 8 in) to 46.575 m (152 ft 9+5⁄8 in), depending on series |
| Width | 2.781 m (9 ft 1 in) to 3.000 m (9 ft 10 in), depending on series |
| Height | 3.767 m (12 ft 4 in) to 4.400 m (14 ft 5 in), depending on series |
| Doors | AM39: Sliding doors Rest: Pneumatic folding doors 4 per side (excl. baggage door) |
| Maximum speed | 130 km/h (81 mph)<b→r/> 140 km/h (87 mph) AM46 + AM66 and up |
| Weight | 98.5 t (96.94 long tons; 108.58 short tons) to 117 t (115.15 long tons; 128.97 short tons), depending on series |
| Power output | 620 to 840 kW (830 to 1,130 hp), depending on series |
| Electric system(s) | 3000 V DC 1500 V DC (Netherlands) Catenary |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | (A1)(1A) + (A1)(1A) |
| Safety system(s) | TBL1+ (units 642 and up) |
| Coupling system | Henricot semi automatic coupler |
| Multiple working | Within class (all series are interoperable) and with AM75 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
NMBS/SNCB Classical twin EMUs (also referred by their construction year - AM39 for "Automotrice 1939" up to AM79 for the last units from 1979; or MS39 to MS79 for the Dutch-language equivalent "Motorstel") were electric multiple unit trains operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB). They were the standard equipment for local trains under the Belgian standard 3000 Volts DC overhead lines, until they gradually replaced by the Class 08 Desiro Mainline EMU's starting from the early 21st century.
Classical EMUs were originally painted in dark green, with small yellow stripes surrounding the front lights. As those were considered insufficiently visible, the front door was also painted in yellow and the stripes were enlarged.
A subset of 22 EMUs was built with stainless steel body instead of (regular) carbon steel. This remains a one shot trial as the next generations were built with carbon steel bodies.
Another subset of 6 EMUs, built in 1970, were specifically adapted for airport service, with more space between seats and a huge luggage compartment. Although they were operated by railways staff, access was restricted to travellers holding valid SABENA airline tickets with a dedicated platform provided at Brussels Central Station. A blue paint scheme was also chosen to identify those EMUs. These units were retired in 2013.
In 1984, the Belgian Railways introduced a new transportation plan based on fixed-interval timetables (and the closure of many secondary passenger lines) called "Plan IC-IR." A new paint scheme was applied, based on a burgundy red color with a large white line surrounding the entire coaches or EMUs below the windows.
In 1999, classical EMUs built in the seventies were extensively refurbished, the program included comfort upgrade (interior replacement, sound system, closed circuit toilets) and repainting in the light gray livery with blue and red lines under the windows. Few units were still in the older green delivery when refurbished. The last 40 to be refurbished units received extra features (LED information displays, multi-service compartments for bicycles or standing passengers) for suburban "CityRail" (predecessor of the Brussels S Train) services.
Withdrawal
[edit]
The first withdrawals of the classical EMUs took place at the end of the 1970s.
In 2013, a hundred non-refurbished units were scrapped, after many of the Desiro Mainline Class 08 entered into revenue service.[citation needed]
The last unit was retired in a farewell run held on 14 December 2014. Unit 660, which was part of the farewell run, will be preserved at Train World in Schaerbeek.[1]
Technical specifications
[edit]These EMUs are driven by four 185 kW 1500 Volts DC motors. Units built before 1970 were driven by a Jeumont-Heidmann camshaft controller. After 1970, Thyristor drive were used instead.[2][3]
| Class | Image | Fleet numbers | Number | Top speed | Power output | Length | Mass/Weight (in tons) | Capacity | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS39 | 001-008 | 8 | 130 km/h (81 mph) | 840 kW | 43.04 m (141 ft 2 in) | 101 t (99.4 long tons; 111.3 short tons) | 143
30 1st |
1978 | High-platform only units | |
| MS46 | 009 | 1 | 140 km/h (87 mph) | 830 kW | 43.3 m (142 ft 1 in) | 110 t (108.3 long tons; 121.3 short tons) | 164
24 1st |
1978 | Prototype and pseudo-highspeedunit capable of reaching 140 km/h. High-platform only unit | |
| MS50 | 
|
010-034 | 25 | 130 km/h (81 mph) | 620 kW | 44.4 m (145 ft 8 in) | 117 t (115.2 long tons; 129.0 short tons) | 170
32 1st |
1995 | Almost identical to MS53. High Platform Units |
| MS51 | 501 Later 050 |
1 | 45.78 m (150 ft 2 in) | 98.5 t (96.9 long tons; 108.6 short tons) | 161
42 1st |
1978 | Later renumbered to 050, the original 050 was renumbered 062. High-platform only unit | |||
| MS53 | 035-049 | 15 | 44.4 m (145 ft 8 in) | 116 t (114.2 long tons; 127.9 short tons) | 170
32 1st |
1995 | Almost identical to MS50. High-platform only units | |||
| MS54 | 
|
050-128 | 79 | 45.28 m (148 ft 7 in) | 106 t (104.3 long tons; 116.8 short tons) | 185
31 1st |
1995 | 050 was renumbered to 062 after the first 062 caught fire. 15 units were converted to mail trains for Belgian Post in 1988. 106 was used as a test train for TBL in 2004 | ||
| MS55 | 
|
502-539 | 38 | 45.68 m (149 ft 10 in) | 105 t (103.3 long tons; 115.7 short tons) | 181
45 1st |
1995 | |||
| MS56 | 
|
129-150 | 22 | 45.28 m (148 ft 7 in) | 102 t (100.4 long tons; 112.4 short tons) | 185
31 1st 154 2nd |
2000 | Stainless steel body, units were not painted | ||
| MS62
MS63 |
|
151-210 211-250 251-270 |
60 40 20 |
735 kW | 46.57 m (152 ft 9 in) | 101 t (99.4 long tons; 111.3 short tons) | 180
28 1st |
2013 | 151 was renumbered to 050 in the 90's due to test with asynchronous motors. | |
| MS66 MS70JH MS70TH |
|
601-640 641-664 665-676 |
40 24 12 |
140 km/h (87 mph) | 770 kW | 46.61 m (152 ft 11 in) | 2024 | From 665 on units were equipped with thyristors. In 2006–2008 all MS70TH sets, except 672, were refurbished to MSCR | ||
| MS70 Airport | 
|
801-806 Later 595-600 |
6 | 121 t (119.1 long tons; 133.4 short tons) | 118
32 1st |
2013 | Specially built for services to Brussels Airport-Zaventem, with extra luggage space. | |||
| MS73 MS74 MS78 MS79 |
|
677-706 707-730 731-756 757-782 |
30 24 26 26 |
107 t (105.3 long tons; 117.9 short tons) | 178
28 1st |
2024 | In 2006-2008 677 to 683 and 707 to 730, except 709 and 716, were refurbished to MSCR | |||
| MSCR 'CityRail' |
|
960-999 | 40 | Modernised MS70TH, MS73 and MS74. Retired in 2024. | ||||||
-
Three different painting schemes at Ottignies station. -
Second class interiors of a refurbished unit. -
Drivers cab of an unrefurbished unit.
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.trainworld.be/fr/voyage-d-adieu-aux-automotrices-classiques
- ^ "Trains d'Europe : Chemins de fer belges (SNCB)". trains-europe.fr. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ "Petit coup d'œil sur nos automotrices - Rixke Rail's Archives". rixke.tassignon.be. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
External links
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