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SBB RABe 501

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SBB RABe 501
SBB RABe 501 at Erstfeld in 2019
First class interior
ManufacturerStadler Rail
Constructed2016–
Capacity
  • 117 1st Class
  • 286 2nd Class
  • 4 Wheelchair spaces
Operators
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Train length202 m (662 ft 9 in)
Car length
  • 22.25 m (73 ft 0 in) (end carriages)
  • 17.5 m (57 ft 5 in) (intermediate carriages)
Width2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height4,255 mm (13 ft 11.5 in)
Floor height
  • 940 mm (37 in) (low-floor)
  • 1,150 mm (45 in) (high-floor)
Wheel diameter920–840 mm (36–33 in) (new–worn)
Wheelbase
  • 2,700 mm (8 ft 10 in) (end bogies)
  • 2,750 mm (9 ft 0 in) (Jacobs-bogies)
Maximum speed
  • 200 or 250 km/h (125 or 155 mph)[a]
Weight380 t (370 long tons; 420 short tons) (unladen)
Traction systemABB BORDLINE CC1500 MS 3-level IGBT–VVVF[1]
Traction motors8 × TSA TMF 50-33-4 600 kW (805 hp)[2] asynchronous 3-phase AC
Power output4,800 kW (6,440 hp)
Tractive effort300 kN (67,400 lbf)
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)1,450 mm (4 ft 9 in) and 1,950 mm (6 ft 5 in) wide pantographs
UIC classification2′(Bo)′(Bo)′(2)′(2)′(2)′(2)′(Bo)′(Bo)′(2)′(2)′2′
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
[3][4]
SBB RABe 501 with Scharfenberg coupler opened at Zurich HB

The RABe 501, nicknamed Giruno, is a high-speed electric multiple unit train built by Stadler Rail of Switzerland for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). According to Stadler Rail, it was the world's first single-decker low-floor high-speed train.[5]

The trains are intended to replace the ETR610 trains on the trans-Alpine route between Milan (Italy) and Basel / Zürich,[6] with eventually further connections with Germany and Austria. The main route goes through the 57 kilometre-long Gotthard Base Tunnel. As a consequence, the Giruno is also referred to as the "Gotthard train".[7]

The 11-car units operate with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and can accommodate up to 403 passengers (117 in first class, 286 in second class). Two train sets can be coupled together to accommodate over 800 passengers.

Names

[edit]

Stadler originally named the train the EC250. This was changed in 2017 to SMILE,[8] short for Schneller Mehrsystemfähiger Innovativer Leichter Expresszug (English: “speedy multi-system innovative lightweight express train”).[8][9] The SBB have named the train Giruno (Romansh: "Buzzard").

Development

[edit]

In April 2012, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) issued a tender for 29 new single-deck trains, capable of reaching 250 km/h (155 mph), for service on routes between Germany, Switzerland and Italy via the then under-construction Gotthard Base Tunnel,[10] the only completely flat route through the great Alpine barrier. Bids were placed by Stadler Rail (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Alstom (France) and Talgo (Spain). All four bids were rejected by SBB and a second round took place, at which point Siemens withdrew. On 9 May 2014 SBB announced an order worth CHF 980,000,000 for 29 Stadler EC250s. The final signing was delayed, however, as Alstom and Talgo both launched legal challenges: Alstom withdrew theirs in September 2014, while Talgo's complaint – that SBB gave the domestic producer an advantage – was dismissed by the Federal Administrative Court in October 2014. The final contract was signed between SBB and Stadler on 30 October 2014.[11]

The EC250's first public appearance – as a short 5-car set – was at InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin, Germany, by Stadler CEO, Peter Spuhler, and SBB CEO, Andreas Meyer.[12] The first full 11-car set was presented at a ceremony in Bussnang on 18 May 2017, which was also attended by the then Swiss President Doris Leuthard.[13] Shortly afterwards in August, the EC250 was renamed as SMILE following a public competition.[8]

As SBB intend to operate these trains across several countries, testing had to be carried out in Germany, Italy and Austria, in addition to Switzerland. In early April 2018, a test train unit ran through the Gotthard Tunnel at 275 km/h (171 mph) in order to meet approval conditions to operate up to 250 km/h (155 mph) on the line.[14] The Federal Office of Transport approved this service for Switzerland on 4 April 2019 and the European Union Railway Agency approved it for Italy in March 2020 – in both cases, for speeds up to 200 km/h (125 mph).[15][16]

The first passenger revenue service operated between Zürich and Erstfeld on 8 May 2019, using Giruno unit 501 006.[17]

In February 2024, Stadler and Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) signed a contract for the supply and maintenance of 10 DMU trains, with an option for 10 more, depicted on artist impressions using the same cab as the Giruno.[18]

Design

[edit]
Second-class Giruno interior, showing the raised seats and ramps at the end of the carriage

The EC250 is designed to comply with the TSI-High-speed regulations and meets the EN 15227 crashworthiness standards.

The cars are connected to Jacobs bogies and the propulsion system consists of four motorised bogies, powered from four roof-mounted electric current collectors.[19] The electrification system is compatible with the Swiss and German 15 kV 16.7 Hz alternating current (AC) overhead power supplies, as well as with Italian 3 kV direct current (DC) and 25 kV 50 Hz electrification systems. The motorized bogies are reportedly capable of generating a maximum power output of 6000 kW.[20]

Each 11-car train set is 200 metres (656 ft 2 in) long and has an empty weight of 380 tonnes (840,000 lb). Each carriage has a width of 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) and a height of 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in). The wheelbase of the unpowered bogies is 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in), while those of the motorised bogies are 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in). The carriages do not have a uniform floor height as the seats at either end of each car are positioned above the bogies while the central aisle rises towards the carriage connection through ramps.

The low-floor entrances allow step-free access from platforms at heights between 550 mm (22 in) and 760 mm (30 in) and several accessible toilets and areas for wheelchairs are available, allowing the train to comply with the Law on Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities.[21] As a long-distance train, it also features signal boosters for 3G/4G cellular phone networks, power sockets (for Swiss and international plugs) and large luggage racks for passenger comfort, along with energy-efficient lighting. The interior is flexible, meaning it can be extensively refitted and modified to an operator's requirements.[20]

Service

[edit]

As of December 2020, Giruno units operate services from Basel and Zürich to Chiasso and Lugano. Services between Zurich and Milan have also operated since 12 August 2020, and have later expanded to Venice, Genoa and Bologna.[22]

The Giruno replaced existing RABDe 500 (ICN) and tilting ETR 610 units on the Gotthard railway, which were reassigned to more winding Alpine routes such as the Jura Foot Railway.[23]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 200 km/h (125 mph) (230 km/h (145 mph) if delayed) in Switzerland, 250 km/h (155 mph) outside of Switzerland.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Compact converter BORDLINE® CC1500 MS for multi-system high-speed trains" (PDF). ABB. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Stadler Rail E250 Giruno for SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen)". Traktionssysteme Austria. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Electric high-speed multiple unit SMILE" (PDF). Stadler Rail. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Das Zulassungskonzept für den EC 250 / Giruno Hochgeschwindigkeitszug" (PDF) (in German). Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Stadler Rail wins tender for NRLA trains". Stadler Rail. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  6. ^ Green, Anitra (9 May 2014). "SBB orders 29 transalpine EMUs from Stadler". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  7. ^ Stadler Giruno High-Speed Train for the Gotthard Receives Operating Licence, railway-news.com
  8. ^ a b c "Stadler renames EC250 high-speed train as SMILE." railwaypro.com, 18 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Stadler names its new high-speed train SMILE." globalrailwayreview.com, 18 August 2017.
  10. ^ Green, Anitra (16 April 2012). "SSB issues tender for 29 high-speed trains". International Rail Journal. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  11. ^ Fontana, Katharina (30 October 2014). "Sieg für Stadler Rail und SBB". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Stadler unveils EC250 'Giruno' low floor high-speed train". Global Railway Review. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Stadler presents the New Gotthard Tunnel Train". Railway-News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Mit 275 km/h durch den Gotthard Basistunnel". info24news.net (in German). 3 April 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Stadler Giruno High-Speed Train for the Gotthard Receives Operating Licence". Railway-News. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Stadler: SBB-Hochgeschwindigkeitszug "Giruno" erhält Italien-Zulassung". Bahnblogstelle (in German). 7 March 2020. Archived from the original on 13 Mar 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  17. ^ "[CH] SBB Giruno: First service with passengers". Railcolor News. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Stadler Intercity trains for Saudi Arabia Railways". Railcolor News. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  19. ^ Hegde, Zenobia. "TE Connectivity to supply high-voltage roofline equipment for Stadler SMILE trains." IoTNow, 12 March 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Stadler EC250 High-Speed Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)." railway-technology.com, Retrieved: 22 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Giruno Gotthard train granted to operate at 200 km/h on the Swiss network". Global Railway Review. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  22. ^ Hartmeier, Sandro (17 November 2020). "Giruno seit 10. August 2020 zwischen Zürich und Mailand im Einsatz". Bahnonline.ch (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Rollmaterial-Beschaffung Nord-Süd-Verkehr: SBB vergibt Auftrag für 29 neue Züge an Stadler Rail". Archiv-Seite von info24 - ÖV Schweiz - Europa (in German). 9 May 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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