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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
  • 1171st Class
  • 2862nd Class
  • 4Wheelchair 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 systemABBBORDLINE CC1500 MS 3-levelIGBT–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 ft8+1⁄2in)standard gauge
Notes/references
[3][4]
SBB RABe 501 with Scharfenberg coupler opened at Zurich HB

TheRABe 501,nicknamedGiruno,is ahigh-speedelectric multiple unittrain built byStadler Railof Switzerland for theSwiss Federal Railways(SBB). According to Stadler Rail, it was the world's first single-deckerlow-floorhigh-speed train.[5]

The trains are intended to replace theETR610trains on the trans-Alpineroute betweenMilan(Italy) andBasel/Zürich,[6]with eventually further connections with Germany and Austria. The main route goes through the 57 kilometre-longGotthard 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 theEC250.This was changed in 2017 toSMILE,[8]short forSchnellerMehrsystemfähigerInnovativerLeichterExpresszug(English: “speedy multi-system innovative lightweight express train” ).[8][9]The SBB have named the trainGiruno(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 betweenGermany,Switzerland andItalyvia the then under-constructionGotthard Base Tunnel,[10]the only completely flat route through the greatAlpine barrier.Bids were placed byStadler Rail(Switzerland),Siemens(Germany),Alstom(France) andTalgo(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 worthCHF980,000,000 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 theFederal Administrative Courtin 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 atInnoTrans2016 inBerlin,Germany, by Stadler CEO,Peter Spuhler,and SBB CEO,Andreas Meyer.[12]The first full 11-car set was presented at a ceremony inBussnangon 18 May 2017, which was also attended by the thenSwiss PresidentDoris 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 andAustria,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]TheFederal Office of Transportapproved 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 betweenZürichandErstfeldon 8 May 2019, using Giruno unit 501 006.[17]

In February 2024, Stadler andSaudi 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-classGirunointerior, 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 theEN 15227crashworthinessstandards.

The cars are connected toJacobs bogiesand 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 Hzalternating current(AC) overhead power supplies, as well as with Italian 3 kVdirect 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 fromBaselandZürichtoChiassoandLugano.Services between Zurich andMilanhave also operated since 12 August 2020, and have later expanded toVenice,GenoaandBologna.[22]

The Giruno replaced existingRABDe 500(ICN) and tiltingETR 610units on theGotthard railway,which were reassigned to more winding Alpine routes such as theJura 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.Retrieved12 June2023.
  2. ^"Stadler Rail E250 Giruno for SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen)".Traktionssysteme Austria.Retrieved29 June2023.
  3. ^"Electric high-speed multiple unit SMILE"(PDF).Stadler Rail.Retrieved12 June2023.
  4. ^"Das Zulassungskonzept für den EC 250 / Giruno Hochgeschwindigkeitszug"(PDF)(in German).Retrieved14 June2023.
  5. ^"Stadler Rail wins tender for NRLA trains".Stadler Rail.Retrieved4 June2014.
  6. ^Green, Anitra (9 May 2014)."SBB orders 29 transalpine EMUs from Stadler".International Railway Journal.Retrieved9 May2014.
  7. ^Stadler Giruno High-Speed Train for the Gotthard Receives Operating Licence,railway-news
  8. ^abc"Stadler renames EC250 high-speed train as SMILE."railwaypro,18 August 2017.
  9. ^"Stadler names its new high-speed train SMILE."globalrailwayreview,18 August 2017.
  10. ^Green, Anitra (16 April 2012)."SSB issues tender for 29 high-speed trains".International Rail Journal.Retrieved26 December2020.
  11. ^Fontana, Katharina (30 October 2014)."Sieg für Stadler Rail und SBB".Neue Zürcher Zeitung(in German).Retrieved26 December2020.
  12. ^"Stadler unveils EC250 'Giruno' low floor high-speed train".Global Railway Review.22 September 2016.Retrieved26 December2020.
  13. ^"Stadler presents the New Gotthard Tunnel Train".Railway-News.22 May 2017.Retrieved26 December2020.
  14. ^"Mit 275 km/h durch den Gotthard Basistunnel".info24news.net(in German). 3 April 2018.Retrieved26 December2020.
  15. ^"Stadler Giruno High-Speed Train for the Gotthard Receives Operating Licence".Railway-News.5 April 2019.Retrieved26 December2020.
  16. ^"Stadler: SBB-Hochgeschwindigkeitszug" Giruno "erhält Italien-Zulassung".Bahnblogstelle(in German). 7 March 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 13 Mar 2020.Retrieved26 December2020.
  17. ^"[CH] SBB Giruno: First service with passengers".Railcolor News. 8 May 2019.Retrieved26 December2020.
  18. ^"Stadler Intercity trains for Saudi Arabia Railways".Railcolor News. 7 February 2024.Retrieved7 February2024.
  19. ^Hegde, Zenobia."TE Connectivity to supply high-voltage roofline equipment for Stadler SMILE trains."IoTNow,12 March 2018.
  20. ^ab"Stadler EC250 High-Speed Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)."railway-technology,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.Retrieved26 December2020.
  22. ^Hartmeier, Sandro (17 November 2020)."Giruno seit 10. August 2020 zwischen Zürich und Mailand im Einsatz".Bahnonline.ch(in German).Retrieved26 December2020.
  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.Retrieved27 December2020.
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