SBB-CFF-FFS RABe 514
Encyclopedia
The RABe 514 is a four-car double decker electrical multiple unit used by the Swiss Federal Railways SBB-CFF-FFS for the Zürich S-Bahn
. It is part of the Siemens Desiro Double Deck product family. The trains are also referred to as DTZ which stands for the German word Doppelstocktriebzug (English: double decker multiple unit).
On 23 February 2003 the Swiss Federal Railways' board of directors decided to give the 447 million CHF
contract for building 35 double decker trains to Siemens Transportation Systems
. This decision came as a surprise since Siemens has never build double decker EMUs before, except for an experimental train build in a consortium with DWA Görlitz (now Bombardier Transportation
) that never entered into service. To fulfill the domestic content requirement in the contact, Siemens reached an agreement with Stadler Rail
to perform some of the assembling and the commissioning in their factory in Altenrhein, Switzerland.
The trains were originally intended to enter service in December 2005, but the date could not be kept. Nevertheless, the first trainset was presented to the public on 2 December 2005 at Zürich Hauptbahnhof. Until May of the next year, the RABe 514 were thoroughly tested and then entered into regular passenger service on the S14
line.
In March 2006 the Swiss Federal Railways exercised their purchase option for another 25 units. Because of the delayed delivery of the first trainsets, Siemens agreed to build an additional train instead of paying a penalty. Delivery of all 61 trains was completed in July 2009.
, the first generation trains, the RABe 514 feature a low-level entrance for level boarding, air conditioning and vacuum toilets (in a washroom suitable for the disabled).
The four-car multiple unit consists of two powered end cars with two unpowered cars between them. Both bogies in an end car are driven by induction motor
s with a power output of 400 kW per axle providing a total of 3200 kW for the trainset. Since there was not enough space for a 15 kV power line through the train, both end cars draw their power from a separate pantograph
.
An automatic coupling system allows for up to four trainset to be connected together for additional capacity, however in practice the maximum is three connected trains due to the limited platform lengths of 300 m at the train stations.
. The thereby freed up Re 450 trains were then used to replace the old single deck trains RABDe 510
and RBe 540
from the 1960s.
The first line served by the new Siemens trains was the S14 (Hinwil–Zürich Hauptbahnhof)
. Starting in December 2006 the S7 (Rapperswil–Zürich–Winterthur)
line was also equipped with the new trains. However all newly delivered trains were first put on the S14 line because that line is better suited for testing due to its short length and lower importance than other lines. After the S7 line got all of its required 15 trainsets, the next trains were intended to go to the S5 line
, but that plan was abandoned in favor of the S15 (Affoltern am Albis-Zürich-Rapperswil)
. With delivery of the second batch, the S8 (Pfäffikon-Zürich-Winterthur)
line was equipped as well. On some of the S16 (Meilen-Zürich-Thayngen)
services the DTZ trains are also used, especially on weekends.
The original plan to couple first and second generation trains together to provide level-boarding on more lines could not be implemented due to software problems when connecting the two train generations.
Zürich S-Bahn
The Zurich S-Bahn system is a network of rapid transit rail lines that has been incrementally expanded to cover the ZVV area, which comprises the entire canton of Zurich and portions of neighboring cantons The Zurich S-Bahn system is a network of rapid transit rail lines that has been...
. It is part of the Siemens Desiro Double Deck product family. The trains are also referred to as DTZ which stands for the German word Doppelstocktriebzug (English: double decker multiple unit).
History
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
contract for building 35 double decker trains to Siemens Transportation Systems
Siemens Transportation Systems
Siemens Mobility is a division of the German Siemens AG conglomerate. The Mobility sub-division brings together Siemens competencies in rail, road, and air traffic solutions....
. This decision came as a surprise since Siemens has never build double decker EMUs before, except for an experimental train build in a consortium with DWA Görlitz (now Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
) that never entered into service. To fulfill the domestic content requirement in the contact, Siemens reached an agreement with Stadler Rail
Stadler Rail
Stadler 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 :...
to perform some of the assembling and the commissioning in their factory in Altenrhein, Switzerland.
The trains were originally intended to enter service in December 2005, but the date could not be kept. Nevertheless, the first trainset was presented to the public on 2 December 2005 at Zürich Hauptbahnhof. Until May of the next year, the RABe 514 were thoroughly tested and then entered into regular passenger service on the S14
S14 (ZVV)
The S14 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Route :...
line.
In March 2006 the Swiss Federal Railways exercised their purchase option for another 25 units. Because of the delayed delivery of the first trainsets, Siemens agreed to build an additional train instead of paying a penalty. Delivery of all 61 trains was completed in July 2009.
Specifications
The DTZ trains are the second generation double decker trains used on the Zürich S-Bahn. Compared to the Re 450SBB-CFF-FFS Re 450
The Re 450 is a four axle electric locomotive, used by Swiss Federal Railways on S-Bahn services in Zürich. Under the old Swiss class system, they would have been known as Re 4/4V. They are usually found working with fixed formations of three double-deck passenger carriages, the rear-most of which...
, the first generation trains, the RABe 514 feature a low-level entrance for level boarding, air conditioning and vacuum toilets (in a washroom suitable for the disabled).
The four-car multiple unit consists of two powered end cars with two unpowered cars between them. Both bogies in an end car are driven by induction motor
Induction motor
An 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...
s with a power output of 400 kW per axle providing a total of 3200 kW for the trainset. Since there was not enough space for a 15 kV power line through the train, both end cars draw their power from a separate pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
.
An automatic coupling system allows for up to four trainset to be connected together for additional capacity, however in practice the maximum is three connected trains due to the limited platform lengths of 300 m at the train stations.
Interior
The double decker trains provide 74 seats in first class, 304 seats in second class as well room for about 600 people standing. The first class seats are equipped with normal 230 V power outlets for charging notebooks and other devices.Service
The RABe 514 are used on lines previously served by Re 450SBB-CFF-FFS Re 450
The Re 450 is a four axle electric locomotive, used by Swiss Federal Railways on S-Bahn services in Zürich. Under the old Swiss class system, they would have been known as Re 4/4V. They are usually found working with fixed formations of three double-deck passenger carriages, the rear-most of which...
. The thereby freed up Re 450 trains were then used to replace the old single deck trains RABDe 510
SBB-CFF-FFS RABDe 12/12
The RABDe 12/12 is a threepart Electric multiple unit used for commuter traffic by the Swiss Federal Railways SBB-CFF-FFS. The trains were put into service in the late 1960s and were in S-Bahn service around Zurich until December 2008.-Introduction:...
and RBe 540
SBB-CFF-FFS RBe 540
Starting in 1959, the SBB-CFF-FFS put motored coaches of the type RBe 540 into service for push-pull operation on the Gotthard line...
from the 1960s.
The first line served by the new Siemens trains was the S14 (Hinwil–Zürich Hauptbahnhof)
S14 (ZVV)
The S14 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Route :...
. Starting in December 2006 the S7 (Rapperswil–Zürich–Winterthur)
S7 (ZVV)
The S7 is a regional railway line of the Zürich S-Bahn on the ZVV and is one of the network's trunk lines.- Route :...
line was also equipped with the new trains. However all newly delivered trains were first put on the S14 line because that line is better suited for testing due to its short length and lower importance than other lines. After the S7 line got all of its required 15 trainsets, the next trains were intended to go to the S5 line
S5 (ZVV)
The S5 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich, St...
, but that plan was abandoned in favor of the S15 (Affoltern am Albis-Zürich-Rapperswil)
S15 (ZVV)
The S15 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich and St...
. With delivery of the second batch, the S8 (Pfäffikon-Zürich-Winterthur)
S8 (ZVV)
The S8 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Thurgau, Zürich and Schwyz.- Route :...
line was equipped as well. On some of the S16 (Meilen-Zürich-Thayngen)
S16 (ZVV)
The S16 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen.- Route :...
services the DTZ trains are also used, especially on weekends.
The original plan to couple first and second generation trains together to provide level-boarding on more lines could not be implemented due to software problems when connecting the two train generations.