Stadler FLIRT is an
electric multiple unit (EMU)An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
produced by
Stadler Rail AGStadler Rail AG , based in Bussnang, Switzerland, is a Swiss manufacturer of rail passenger cars.In 1942 Ernst Stadler founded the Stadler Engineering Office which later became Stadler Rail.- Factories :...
. The articulated trainset comes in units of two to six cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is 200 km/h. Standard floor height is 57 cm, but 78 cm high floors are also available for platform heights of 76 cm.
The FLIRT train was originally developed for the Swiss Federal Railways and was first delivered in 2004. The trains quickly became a success and were ordered by operators in Algeria, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy and Norway, Poland and Switzerland. In November 2009 the order book stands at 547 sold units..
Specifications
The FLIRT is a completely new developed light regional railcar even though it has a striking resemblance with
GTWThe Stadler GTW, sold by Stadler Rail of Switzerland, is an articulated railcar for local transport. GTW stands for Gelenktriebwagen .-Description:...
vehicles. The trains can be ordered with two to six sections and are available for all commonly used power system (AC and DC) as well as standard- and broad gauge. Due to the use of
jacobs bogiesJacobs bogies are a type of rail vehicle bogie commonly found on articulated railcars and tramway vehicles....
between the sections the whole trains becomes one single cabin that can be walked through. The floor height at the entrances can be chosen by the operator, providing level boarding at most stations. Automatic couplers at both ends of the train allow up to four trains to be connected and disconnected quickly.
All FLIRT variations use IGBT power converters to drive the
induction motorsAn induction or asynchronous motor is a type of AC motor where power is supplied to the rotor by means of electromagnetic induction. These motors are widely used in industrial drives, particularly polyphase induction motors, because they are robust and have no brushes...
located in the two bogies at either end of the train. On the two-section trains, only one bogie is powered, while on longer versions it is possible to have a third powered bogie in the middle (currently only the trains for NSB). Each bogie usually has a continuous power rating of 1000 kW giving a typical four-section train 2000 kW total power output as well as maximum power output of 2600 kW over a short time. Depending on the number of powered bogies, the length and weight, they will reach top speeds between 120 km/h and 200 km/h (typically 160 km/h). Acceleration also varies between 0.8 m/s² and 1.2 m/s².
Switzerland
The Swiss Federal Railways were Stadler's first customer for the FLIRT when they ordered 42 units with options for 100 more in September 2002. The first vehicle was delivered in 2004 for the use on the Stadtbahn Zug.
Meanwhile the Swiss Federal Railways have ordered a total of 117 units that can be broken down into four different types that differ in their equipment for driving in neighboring countries. The base version is the RABe 523 that is used on the Stadtbahn Zug and the RER Lausanne. These 43 four-section units can only be used within Switzerland. The 30 RABe 521 and 14 RABe 522 are versions that can also be used in Germany and France respectively. They also consist of four sections and are used on the Basel S-Bahn. The last version is the Italy-capable RABe 524 that is used in the Ticino. The 19 units of this type already delivered are four-sections long, the eleven units ordered in August 2008 are six-section trains and are additionally equipped with the
ETCS Level 2The European Train Control System is a signalling, control andtrain protection system designed to replace the many incompatible safety systems currently used by European railways, especially on high-speed lines.- History :...
train control system.
Besides the Swiss Federal Railways two other companies in Switzerland operate FLIRT trains: The
SüdostbahnThe Südostbahn – commonly abbreviated to SOB – is a railway company and network in Switzerland.- Structure :...
uses 11 trains with the designation RABe 526 and the Transports Régionaux Neuchâtelois owns three trains (RABe 527).
Germany
The
Cantus VerkehrsgesellschaftCantus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH , based in Kassel is a joint subsidiary of Hessische Landesbahn and Hamburger Hochbahn . The word cantus...
, a joint subsidiary of Hessische Landesbahn and
Hamburger HochbahnHamburger Hochbahn AG or HHA is a company operating the underground system and large parts of the bus system in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 1911 it is headquartered in Hamburg.-History:...
, became the first German FLIRT operator when they received their first train in 2006. Their fleet consists of 14 three-car and 6 four-car units.
Since December 2007 Abellio Rail NRW operates 9 three-car and 8 two-car FLIRT trains for regional routes between
Essen- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
,
HagenHagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
,
IserlohnIserlohn is a city in the Märkischer Kreis district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest city by population and area within the district and the Sauerland region.-Geography:...
and
SiegenSiegen is a city in Germany, in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.It is located in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Arnsberg region...
. This was the first time that a FLIRT with only two sections was ordered.
Also since December 2007 Westfahlenbahn GmbH uses 14 three-car and 5 five-car trains for trains services in the
Teutoburg ForestThe Teutoburg Forest is a range of low, forested mountains in the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia which used to be believed to be the scene of a decisive battle in AD 9...
region.
In 2006
DB RegioDB Regio AG is a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn which operates short and medium distance passenger train services in Germany, and operates light and heavy rail infrastructure in the United Kingdom.-Germany:...
, a subsidiary of
Deutsche Bahn AGDeutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
ordered five five-section vehicles for regional services on the German east coast. The trains were delivered in August 2007 and are now used on the routes
RostockRostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
-
Stralsund- Main sights :* The Brick Gothic historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.* The heart of the old town is the Old Market Square , with the Gothic Town Hall . Behind the town hall stands the imposing Nikolaikirche , built in 1270-1360...
–
LietzowLietzow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.-External links:*...
–
SassnitzSassnitz is a town on the Jasmund peninsula, Rügen Island, in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The population as of 2007 was 10,747....
(Hanse-Express),
SassnitzSassnitz is a town on the Jasmund peninsula, Rügen Island, in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The population as of 2007 was 10,747....
–
Stralsund- Main sights :* The Brick Gothic historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.* The heart of the old town is the Old Market Square , with the Gothic Town Hall . Behind the town hall stands the imposing Nikolaikirche , built in 1270-1360...
and
BinzBinz is the largest seaside resort on the German island of Rügen. It is situated between the Prorer Wiek and the Schmachter See in the south-east of the island. To the north of Binz stretches the Schmale Heide , a tongue of land which joins the Muttland region of Rügen to the Jasmund peninsula...
–
LietzowLietzow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.-External links:*...
.
The biggest order from Germany so far came in October 2006 from the leasing company Angel Trains Europa GmbH when they ordered 25 four-car FLIRT trains. All 25 units have been leased to Eurobahn who uses them on the Hellweg network in
North Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. Only a year later, in November 2007, Angel Trains ordered 4 more four-car and 14 five-car trains that will also be used by Eurobahn.
On the InnoTrans 2008, a trade fair focused on rail transport, VIAS GmbH announced their order for 12 four-section and 7 three-section units. Starting in December 2010, the trains will be put on the Frankfurt–
KoblenzKoblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
route.
Finland
32 four-section FLIRT units, classified as
Sm5The Sm5 electric multiple unit is a low-floor train used on the Helsinki commuter rail network. Unlike other train types on the network, the Sm5 units are owned by Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy, a subsidiary of the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen and the VR Group...
in the Finnish system, have been ordered by Pääkaupunkiseudun junakalusto Oy (a joint venture between the cities of
HelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
,
EspooEspoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
,
VantaaVantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...
&
KauniainenKauniainen is a small town and a municipality of inhabitants in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. It is surrounded by the city of Espoo, in Greater Helsinki...
and the
VR GroupVR or VR Group is a state-owned railway company in Finland. Formerly known as Suomen Valtion Rautatiet until 1922 and Valtionrautatiet / Statsjärnvägarna until 1995...
) for service on the
Helsinki commuter railHelsinki commuter rail is the commuter rail system serving Greater Helsinki, Finland. The network is operated by VR, the Finnish national railway company. Together with the Helsinki Metro and trams, the network forms the heart of Helsinki's public transportation infrastructure.Trains run above...
network. The Sm5 units will be leased by Pääkaupunkiseudun junakalusto to the
Helsinki Metropolitan Area CouncilThe Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council was a co-operation agency operating in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, now replaced by HSL and HSY. The organisation had a few responsibilities, most notably regional public transport and waste management. It was subordinated to the city councils of the four...
, but they will be operated by the VR Group.
The first Sm5 unit arrived in Finland on 11 November 2008. Following preliminary testing the first unit was displayed to the public in Helsinki on 17 December 2008. During the remainder of on 2008 and for most of 2009 the Sm5 units were extensively tested in different parts of Finland. The first unit entered passenger service on 18 November 2009.
Norway
50 Flirt units were ordered by the Norwegian State Railways, with a further 100 on option. Twenty-six units will be used on the
Oslo Commuter RailOslo Commuter Rail is a commuter rail centered in Oslo, Norway, connecting the capital to six counties in Eastern Norway. The system is operated by the Norwegian State Railways and its subsidiary NSB Gjøvikbanen, using Class 69 and Class 72 electric multiple units . The network spans eight routes...
and the remaining 24 units will be used on regional and express routes.
All trains will have five cars. However, in contrast to previous five-car FLIRTs they will have a third powered bogie giving them a maximum power output of 4500 kW and a top speed of 200 km/h. As of February 2009, trial runs have been made on the Bergen Line, using a SBB-CFF-FFS unit.
Others
Algeria:
- SNTF
National company for rail transport is Algeria's national railway operator. The SNTF, a state-owned company, currently has a monopoly over Algeria's network of , even though it is currently exploiting only...
Belarus:
- 10 units to the Belarusian Railways delivered 2012.
Czech Republic:
Hungary:
- Hungarian State Railways
Hungarian State Railways is the Hungarian national railway company, with divisions "MÁV Start Zrt" and "MÁV Cargo Zrt" ....
60 unit
Poland:
- Koleje Mazowieckie
Koleje Mazowieckie is a regional rail operator in the Masovian Voivodeship of Poland.- History :The company was founded in 2004 as a joint venture of the Masovian Voivodeship, with 51% shares, and the, then government-owned, PKP Przewozy Regionalne, with 49% shares, to handle local passenger...
(KM)
Italy:
- Tilo
- Sistemi Territoriali
- Südtiroler Transportstrukturen
- Ferrovie del Nord Barese
The Ferrovie del Nord Barese are a regional railroad company active in Apulia, southern Italy, managing the Bari-Barletta line. The company serving the line is the Ferrotramviaria S.p.A....
- Ferrovie Emilia Romagna
Ferrovie Emilia Romagna is a secondary bus and railway company of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy.The company was formed in 1997 by acquisition by the Emilia-Romagna region of four previous state-owned railway companies:...
Estonia:
- Elektriraudtee has ordered 18 electric and 10 diesel trains (with an option for 10 more diesel trains). The trains will be delivered between 2012 and 2014.
Source
External links