VR Class Sm6

VR Class Sm6
Sm6 in Allegro colors at Helsinki Central Station
Second class coach (before refurbishment)
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service
  • 2010–2022
  • 2025– (planned)
ManufacturerAlstom
Built atSavigliano
Family nameNew Pendolino
Constructed2009–2011
Entered service2010
Refurbished2018–2019
Number built4
Formation7 cars
Capacity
  • 337 + 2 disabled access
  • + 38 in restaurant
Operators
Specifications
Train length184.80 m (606 ft 4 in)
Car length25.00 m (82 ft 0 in)
27.20 m (89 ft 3 in)
Width3,200 mm (10 ft 6 in)
Height4,270 mm (14 ft 0 in)
Floor height1,270 mm (4 ft 2 in)
Platform height
  • 200 mm (7.9 in) (Russia AC and Northern Finland)
  • 550 mm (21.7 in) (Southern Finland)
  • 1,100 mm (43.3 in) (Russia DC)
Doors12+12
Maximum speed220 km/h (140 mph)
Power output5,500 kW (7,400 hp)
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Safety system(s)
Track gaugeRussian track:
1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge
Finnish track:
1,524 mm (5 ft)
Wheelsets:
1,522 mm (59.92 in)[1]

The Sm6 is a class of high-speed tilting electric multiple unit trainsets built by Alstom. A total of four trainsets were originally built for the now-defunct Allegro train service operated by Karelian Trains, a joint venture between Russian Railways (RZhD) and VR Group (Finnish Railways). VR has announced that they have seized full control of the trains and would begin using them in domestic services in 2025.[2][3]

The Sm6 appears externally similar to VR's earlier Sm3 Pendolino series, but is based on the fourth generation 'Pendolino Nuovo' or 'New Pendolino' designs and its construction differed from the Sm3 in many ways.[1][4] Each trainset consists of seven carriages each. The top speed of the train in passenger traffic is 220 km/h (140 mph).[3]

All four Sm6 trains were refurbished by VR FleetCare between 2018 and 2019.[5] The Sm6 fleet is primarily maintained at Ilmala depot north of Helsinki, although some maintenance mainly related to Russian technical systems was also performed in Saint Petersburg.[citation needed]

The Sm6 was equipped to operate on both the Finnish and the Russian railway networks. The units had dual-voltage electrical equipment able to use both the Finnish 25 kV 50 Hz alternating current and the Russian 3 kV direct current electrification systems. The wheelsets were built to run at over 200 km/h (120 mph) speeds on both the Finnish 1,524 mm (5 ft) and the nominally slightly narrower Russian 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) gauges, and the doors were equipped with a retractable step to make boarding from both Finnish 550 mm (21.7 in) high and Russian 1,100 mm (43.3 in) high platforms easy. The units were equipped for both the Finnish and Russian railway technical systems, which differed substantially.[6]

  • First class coach (before refurbishment)
    First class coach (before refurbishment)
  • Driver's cabin
    Driver's cabin

References

  1. ^ a b "Allegro high speed Pendolino train presented at Finland station in Saint Petersburg". Alstom. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  2. ^ Hanhinen, Hanna; Kangas, Laura (2023-12-14). "VR ottaa Allegro-junat kotimaan liikenteeseen". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  3. ^ a b "Allegro trains to be deployed in VR's domestic long-distance traffic from 2025". VR Group. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  4. ^ Salo, Sakari K (2011). "Helsingin–Pietarin liikenteen kehityksestä allegro". Resiina (in Finnish) (1). Museorautatieyhdistys ry, Suomen Rautatiehistoriallinen Seura ry: 24–36. ISSN 0356-0600.
  5. ^ Paananen, Arja (19 April 2018). "Nahkapenkit, uudet värit, ravintolaan sohvaryhmiä: Allegro-junat mukavuusremonttiin – ensimmäinen valmistuu MM-kisaturisteille". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish).
  6. ^ "2000-luvun tekniikalla kohti Pietaria" [Towards St. Petersburg with 21st century technology] (PDF). Rautatietekniikka (in Finnish). 22 (2). Rautatiealan Teknisten Liitto RTL ry: 10–12. 2010. ISSN 1237-1513. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17.