BLS RABe 525

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RABe 525
BLS NINA 29 fahrt in Huswil ein (2019).jpg
BLS No. 029 at Hüswil in 2019
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service1998–present
Manufacturer Vevey Technologies (1998–2001)
Bombardier (from 2001)
Alstom/Traxis (formerly Holec)
Refurbished2015-2019
Number built37
Number in service36
Number scrapped1
Fleet numbers
  • 001–014, 028–030, 032–037 (3 car units)
  • 015-027 (4 car units)
Capacity
  • 134 seated + 70 standees (3 car unit)
  • 179 seated + 85 standees (4 car unit)
Operators BLS AG
Specifications
Train length
  • 47.7 m (156 ft) (3 car unit)
  • 61.9 m (203 ft) (4 car unit)
Width3,030 mm (9.94 ft) [1]
Height4,315 mm (14.157 ft) [1]
Articulated sections3 or 4
Wheel diameterpowered: 750/680 mm [1]
non-powered: 630/560 mm [1]
Wheelbase powered: 2500 mm [1]
non-powered: 2700 mm [1]
Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph)
Weight
  • 79 t (3 car unit)
  • 96 t (4 car unit)
Traction system 3-phase (IGBT-VVVF) [1]
Traction motors 4-pole asynchronous 3-phase motor [1]
Power output4× 256 kW [1]
Tractive effort 105 kN [1]
Gear ratio 1 : 4,376 [2]
Acceleration 1,2 m/s2 [1]
Deceleration 1,3 - 1,9 m/s2 [1]
Electric system(s) 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
UIC classification Bo'2'2'Bo' / Bo'2'2'2'Bo'
Minimum turning radius 100 m [1]
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Notes/references
[3]
A BLS RABe 525 Nina train in Langnau im Emmental railway station RABe525NINA.jpg
A BLS RABe 525 Nina train in Langnau im Emmental railway station
A BLS RABe 535 Lotschberger in multiple unit with a Nina BLS RABe 535 Loetschberger.jpg
A BLS RABe 535 Lötschberger in multiple unit with a Nina

The BLS RABe 525, also known as NINA or Nina, is a Swiss electric multiple unit built by Bombardier Transportation with electrical equipment by Alstom. The train is principally used by the BLS AG on Bern S-Bahn services, four units (525 038-041) belong to RegionAlps. An updated version exists as the BLS RABe 535 , also known as Lötschberger, also exists with a revised front end and an interior intended for longer distance services.

Contents

Design

The articulated trainset was designed to be built with from two to six sections and with two to six motorized axles. The 3 car units have a length of 47.7 metres (156 ft 6 in), they are 3,030 millimetres (9 ft 11 in) wide and 4,315 millimetres (14 ft 1.9 in) tall. [1] It has 20 first class seats and 114 second class seats as well as 70 standing places. The 4 car units have a length of 61.9 metres (203 ft 1 in), they are 3,030 millimetres (9 ft 11 in) wide and 4,315 millimetres (14 ft 1.9 in) tall. It has 20 first class seats and 159 second class seats as well as 85 standing places. The design speed is 140 km/h (87 mph). The RABe 525 and 535 are technically equal in terms of traction equipment. [2]

Operation

The RABe 525 is used on the following routes:

Refit program

Between 2015 and 2019, BLS modernised its entire Nina fleet. The 1st class is no longer be in the high-floor compartment, but has been moved to the low-floor area. The lighting has also been adapted so that all compartments are well lit. The toilets were also be slightly adapted. A standing area was created in 2nd class and the colour scheme inside and outside the vehicles was standardised so that all trains have the same design. [4] The refit was completed in June 2019. [5]

Named units

BLS initially named the NINA after bodies of water. Later, "Wankdorf" was added as a stop and "Konolfingen" was the first place with a coat of arms. After the refit, two more NINAs were baptised with the coats of arms of towns.

Only the baptised vehicles are listed:

UnitNameImage
525 001 La Thielle/Zihl   [1] La Thielle Zihl.jpg
525 002 Schwarzwasser   [1] Schwarzwasser (Sense).jpg
525 003 Emme   [1] Emme (Schweiz).jpg
525 004 La Broye   [1] La Broye.jpg
525 005 Aare   [1] Aare.jpg
Menznau   [2] Wappen Menznau.jpg
525 006 Gürbe   [1] Gurbe.jpg
Willisau   [2] Wappen Willisau.jpg
525 007Gäbelbach  [1] Gabelbach.jpg
Huttwil   [2] Wappen Huttwil.jpg
525 008 La Sarine/Saane   [1] La Sarine Saane.jpg
525 009 Schwarzsee   [1] Schwarzsee (Freiburg).jpg
525 010 Gerzensee   [1] Gerzensee.jpg
LINA BLS RABe 525 010 LINA.jpg
UnitNameImage
525 011 Müntschemier   [2] Wappen Muntschemier.jpg
525 012 Mühleberg   [2] Wappen Muhleberg.jpg
525 013 Konolfingen   [1]   [2] Wappen Konofingen.jpg
525 014 Wohlensee   [1] Wohlensee.jpg
525 017Grabebach  [1] Grabebach.jpg
525 018 Thunersee   [1] Thunersee (Bern).jpg
525 020Scherlibach  [1] Scherlibach.jpg
525 022Worble  [1] Worble.jpg
525 026Chräbsbach  [1] Chrabsbach.jpg
525 027Glütschbach  [1] Glutschbach.jpg
525 028La Bibera/Bibere  [1] La Bibera Bibere.jpg
525 033 Wankdorf   [1]   [3] Wankdorf.jpg
1 Baptism name removed after modernisation
2 Municipal coat of arms instead of rivers
3 Station instead of river

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Stöckli, Josef; Vorburger, Hans (2003). "Die Niederflur-Nahverkehrs-Pendelzüge RABe 252 "NINA" der BLS, TMR und TRN". Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue (in German). No. 2. pp. 68–79. ISSN   1022-7113.
  2. 1 2 Gerber, Peter (2006). "Die BLS bestellt 13 Niederflur-Triebzüge RABe 525 für den Regio-Express Lötschberg". Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue (in German) (11). Minirex AG: 541–544. ISSN   1022-7113.
  3. BLS (10 January 2023). "Charter trains: RABe 525 – low-floor regional train "NINA"". BLS. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  4. "Refit for the "NINA" trains completed". BLS.ch. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  5. "Alle BLS NINA-Züge modernisiert". Bahnonline.ch (in German). 26 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2024.

Bibliography