Stadler Regio-Shuttle RS1
Encyclopedia
The Stadler Regio-Shuttle RS1 is the first widely-used, new generation, diesel railcar in Germany
for local railway services. Its most characteristic feature is the trapezium-shaped window frames. The Regio-Shuttle is classified by the Deutsche Bahn
as Class 650, however numerous private railways have their own Regio-Shuttles.
, the RS1 is now being built and sold by Stadler Rail AG
, since Bombardier Transportation
had to sell the site at Berlin
-Wilhelmsruh in 2001 for legal reasons when they took over ADtranz. The RS1 is a standard gauge
railbus built to UIC standards, which therefore can withstand longitudinal forces of 1500 kN; it is available with centre buffer couplings or the usual European coupling and buffer equipment. 65 % of the vehicle floor is low-level and designed for a platform
height of 55 cm. On the Schönbuchbahn a special variant designed for 76 cm platforms is in use. The railbus has a high-level floor over the two four-wheeled bogies at each end.
Two independent diesel-mechanical drive units, e.g. from MAN
, run either on diesel fuel or Biodiesel
from rape seed oil, each drive both axles on one of the two bogies.
The RS1's appearance is striking because its window design looks like a timber-framed bridge support (or Warren truss
), the angled bodyshell pillars being visible at the windows. This construction was originally proposed to ABB (later ADtranz
) by Design Triangle
during a research study into weight reduction for high speed trains. The study, reported in a paper to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
in 1996, showed that the diagonal pillar concept allowed mass reduction, improved passenger views and flexibility of seating layout, whilst maintaining adequate body strength and stiffness. ABB applied for a patent on the design. The Bombardier Itino
uses a similar angled window pillar design. A similar window pillar design had been used on the Schienenzeppelin
in 1929.
From an operational point of view the Regio-Shuttle may be used for one-man operations on full gauge railways without any restrictions. Its relatively small capacity (maximum under 170 passengers) is balanced by the fact that the vehicle can be driven in multiples of up to seven units. A rake of five RS1's can thus handle a maximum of just under 850 passengers, albeit somewhat uneconomical compared with a locomotive-hauled train due to the fuel consumption of its ten diesel motors.
In 2006 a Regio-Shuttle was converted by Voith
. Amongst other things it was to have stricter exhaust emission and the top speed was to be raised to 140 km/h. A production series was to follow, however it looks as if the production of the Regio-Shuttle ceased in 2006. In 2007 and 2008 further orders followed from the ODEG, the HzL and Rhenus Veniro. Including the machines on order the total number of manufactureed Regio-Shuttles comes to 365 units. At the end of June 2008 the Deutsche Bahn AG agreed a contract with Stadler for the delivery of up to 60 Regio-Shuttles. These will be called off if DB Regio
is successful in winning tenders and needs Regio-Shuttles for the services envisaged.
. 650 001–027 and 650 100–122 are identical, 650 201–203 and 650 301–321 are cyclist shuttles, but otherwise constructionally identical with the Regio-Shuttles. The vehicles are operated from Tübingen
and Ulm
by DB subsidiaries DB ZugBus Regionalverkehr Alb-Bodensee (RAB). Since May 2000 all the vehicles have been in daily service.
Since 2007, numbers 650 322–327, funded by DB Regio Bayern
, have also been in operation. In addition, the WestFrankenBahn has taken over a railbus from the Kahlgrundbahn, number 650 997. This railbus has since been transferred to the SüdostBayernBahn
and was deployed in 2008 on the Traun-Alz-Bahn between Traunstein
and Traunreut
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for local railway services. Its most characteristic feature is the trapezium-shaped window frames. The Regio-Shuttle is classified by the Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche 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...
as Class 650, however numerous private railways have their own Regio-Shuttles.
Technical information
Originally a product from the firm of ADtranzAdtranz
ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
, the RS1 is now being built and sold by Stadler Rail AG
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 :...
, since 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....
had to sell the site at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
-Wilhelmsruh in 2001 for legal reasons when they took over ADtranz. The RS1 is a standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
railbus built to UIC standards, which therefore can withstand longitudinal forces of 1500 kN; it is available with centre buffer couplings or the usual European coupling and buffer equipment. 65 % of the vehicle floor is low-level and designed for a platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
height of 55 cm. On the Schönbuchbahn a special variant designed for 76 cm platforms is in use. The railbus has a high-level floor over the two four-wheeled bogies at each end.
Two independent diesel-mechanical drive units, e.g. from MAN
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
, run either on diesel fuel or Biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
from rape seed oil, each drive both axles on one of the two bogies.
The RS1's appearance is striking because its window design looks like a timber-framed bridge support (or Warren truss
Warren Truss
Warren Errol Truss , Australian politician, is the current leader of the National Party of Australia in the Parliament of Australia. He has held the House of Representatives seat of Wide Bay since the 1990 election...
), the angled bodyshell pillars being visible at the windows. This construction was originally proposed to ABB (later ADtranz
Adtranz
ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
) by Design Triangle
Design Triangle
Design Triangle is a transport design firm, based in Cambridge, UK. Founded in 1986, Design Triangle specializes in the design of the interiors and exteriors of vehicles for public transport, particularly rail passenger cars.- Rail Vehicles :...
during a research study into weight reduction for high speed trains. The study, reported in a paper to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
in 1996, showed that the diagonal pillar concept allowed mass reduction, improved passenger views and flexibility of seating layout, whilst maintaining adequate body strength and stiffness. ABB applied for a patent on the design. The Bombardier Itino
Bombardier Itino
Bombardier Itino Y31/Y32 is an diesel multiple unit manufactured by Bombardier Transportation, originally developed by Adtranz. It has two or three cars and is capable of 140 –160 km/h. 40 units have been built and 17 more are on order. It is in service in Germany and Sweden.-Germany:In...
uses a similar angled window pillar design. A similar window pillar design had been used on the Schienenzeppelin
Schienenzeppelin
The ' or rail zeppelin was an experimental railcar which resembles a zeppelin airship in appearance. It was designed and developed by the German aircraft engineer Franz Kruckenberg in 1929. Propulsion was by means of a propeller located at the rear, it accelerated the railcar to setting the land...
in 1929.
From an operational point of view the Regio-Shuttle may be used for one-man operations on full gauge railways without any restrictions. Its relatively small capacity (maximum under 170 passengers) is balanced by the fact that the vehicle can be driven in multiples of up to seven units. A rake of five RS1's can thus handle a maximum of just under 850 passengers, albeit somewhat uneconomical compared with a locomotive-hauled train due to the fuel consumption of its ten diesel motors.
In 2006 a Regio-Shuttle was converted by Voith
Voith
The Voith GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany, is a family-run corporation in the mechanical engineering sector with worldwide operations....
. Amongst other things it was to have stricter exhaust emission and the top speed was to be raised to 140 km/h. A production series was to follow, however it looks as if the production of the Regio-Shuttle ceased in 2006. In 2007 and 2008 further orders followed from the ODEG, the HzL and Rhenus Veniro. Including the machines on order the total number of manufactureed Regio-Shuttles comes to 365 units. At the end of June 2008 the Deutsche Bahn AG agreed a contract with Stadler for the delivery of up to 60 Regio-Shuttles. These will be called off if DB Regio
DB Regio
DB 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:...
is successful in winning tenders and needs Regio-Shuttles for the services envisaged.
Overview of railway companies
The following railway companies have Regio-Shuttle RS1's in their fleet:Employment by Deutsche Bahn
In 1999 the Deutsche Bahn began to place Class 650 railbuses into service and currently runs 74 units (as at: June 2005). They are numbered 650 001–027, 650 100–122, 650 201–203 and 650 301–321. 650 100–119 and 650 201–203 were funded by Baden-WürttembergBaden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
. 650 001–027 and 650 100–122 are identical, 650 201–203 and 650 301–321 are cyclist shuttles, but otherwise constructionally identical with the Regio-Shuttles. The vehicles are operated from Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
and Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
by DB subsidiaries DB ZugBus Regionalverkehr Alb-Bodensee (RAB). Since May 2000 all the vehicles have been in daily service.
Since 2007, numbers 650 322–327, funded by DB Regio Bayern
DB Regio
DB 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:...
, have also been in operation. In addition, the WestFrankenBahn has taken over a railbus from the Kahlgrundbahn, number 650 997. This railbus has since been transferred to the SüdostBayernBahn
SüdostBayernBahn
SüdostBayernBahn is one of several regional railway networks in Germany owned by Germany's national railway, Deutsche Bahn AG...
and was deployed in 2008 on the Traun-Alz-Bahn between Traunstein
Traunstein
Traunstein is a town in the south-eastern part of Bavaria, Germany, and is the administrative center of a district by the same name. It is situated at the heart of a region called Chiemgau, approximately 11 km east of Lake Chiemsee between Munich and Salzburg, 15 km north of the Alps, and...
and Traunreut
Traunreut
Traunreut is a town in southeastern Bavaria, Germany in the Traunstein district. It is located at . Traunreut lies in the heart of the Chiemgau region between Munich and Salzburg, approximately 10 km east of the Chiemsee, 25 km north of the Alps, and 35 km west of Salzburg. Its...
.