BLS RABe 525

RABe 525
Silver train with green accents
BLS No. 029 at Hüswil in 2019
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service1998–present
ManufacturerVevey Technologies (1998–2001)
Bombardier (from 2001)
Alstom/Traxis (formely 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)
OperatorsBLS 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]
Wheelbasepowered: 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 system3-phase (IGBT-VVVF)[1]
Traction motors4-pole asynchronous 3-phase motor[1]
Power output4× 256 kW[1]
Tractive effort105 kN[1]
Gear ratio1 : 4,376[2]
Acceleration1,2 m/s2[1]
Deceleration1,3 - 1,9 m/s2[1]
Electric system(s)15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
UIC classificationBo'2'2'Bo' / Bo'2'2'2'Bo'
Minimum turning radius100 m[1]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Notes/references
[3]
A BLS RABe 525 Nina train in Langnau im Emmental railway station
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.

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:

Unit Name Image
525 001 La Thielle/Zihl [1] BLS RABe 525 001
525 002 Schwarzwasser [1] BLS RABe 525 002
525 003 Emme [1] BLS RABe 525 003
525 004 La Broye [1] BLS RABe 525 004
525 005 Aare [1] BLS RABe 525 005
Menznau [2] BLS RABe 525 005
525 006 Gürbe [1] BLS RABe 525 006
Willisau [2] BLS RABe 525 006
525 007 Gäbelbach [1] BLS RABe 525 007
Huttwil [2] BLS RABe 525 007
525 008 La Sarine/Saane [1] BLS RABe 525 008
525 009 Schwarzsee [1] BLS RABe 525 009
525 010 Gerzensee [1] BLS RABe 525 010
LINA BLS RABe 525 010
Unit Name Image
525 011 Müntschemier [2] BLS RABe 525 011
525 012 Mühleberg [2] BLS RABe 525 012
525 013 Konolfingen [1] [2] BLS RABe 525 013
525 014 Wohlensee [1] BLS RABe 525 014
525 017 Grabebach [1] BLS RABe 525 017
525 018 Thunersee [1] BLS RABe 525 018
525 020 Scherlibach [1] BLS RABe 525 020
525 022 Worble [1] BLS RABe 525 022
525 026 Chräbsbach [1] BLS RABe 525 026
525 027 Glütschbach [1] BLS RABe 525 027
525 028 La Bibera/Bibere [1] BLS RABe 525 028
525 033 Wankdorf [1] [3] BLS RABe 525 033
1 Baptism name removed after modernisation
2 Municipal coat of arms instead of rivers
3 Station instead of river

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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. ^ a b 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). 2019-06-26. Retrieved 1 July 2024.

Bibliography



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