Stadler FLIRT (Koleje Mazowieckie) Outside As ER75-006

Stadler FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train; german: 1=Flinker Leichter Intercity- und Regional-Triebzug) is a passenger multiple unit trainset made by Stadler Rail of Switzerland. The baseline design of FLIRT is an electric multiple unit articulated trainset that can come in units of two to twelve cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is . Standard floor height is , but high floors are also available for platform heights of .

The FLIRT train was originally developed for the Swiss Federal Railways and was first delivered in 2004. The trains quickly became a success and were ordered by operators in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and, most recently (2018), Canada. As of October 2021, more than 2500 units have been sold.

Other than electric (EMU), the FLIRT is produced in diesel-electric version (DEMU), and recently also as electro-diesel (bi-mode/BMU), first ordered by the Aosta Valley region in Italy ( BTR.813), and then by Greater Anglia (British Rail Class 755), Norske Tog, and Wales & Borders ("tri-mode" version: diesel/overhead electric/battery).

Specifications

The FLIRT is a new generation of multiple units, even though it has a striking resemblance with GTW vehicles. The trains can have two to six sections and electric variants are available for all commonly used power supply systems (AC and DC) as well as standard and broad gauge. It has Jacobs bogies shared between the individual coaches, with wide walk-through gangways. The floor height at the entrances can be chosen by the operator, providing level boarding at most stations. Automatic couplers of either Schwab type (on all Swiss units) or Scharfenberg type at both ends of the train allow up to four trains to be connected.

All FLIRT variations use IGBT-based traction converters from ABB, which drive the TSA induction motors located in the two bogies at either end of the train. On the two-section trains, only one bogie is powered, while on longer versions it is possible to have a third powered bogie in the middle, found on the trains for Vy in Norway and for PKP Intercity in Poland. Each bogie usually has a continuous power rating of giving a typical four-section train total power output as well as maximum power output of over a short time. Depending on the number of powered bogies, the length and weight, they will reach top speeds between (typically ). Acceleration also varies between .

The diesel version is essentially an electric version with a diesel power module inserted, generating electricity for the electric motors. In TEXRail application, the diesel power module contains two 520 kW (697 hp) Deutz AG TCD 16.0 V8 that complies with US EPA Tier 4 emission standard.

Diesel, bi-mode electro-diesel, hybrid diesel-battery, or battery versions are essentially baseline design with an additional one-third length non-passenger car inserted in the trainset – called a ''PowerPack'' car – which contains the electricity generating and storage components, such as diesel engines and batteries, that provide electricity to the train to run "off-wire". It has a gangway through the centre to allow passengers to pass between the two parts of the train.

Operators

Algeria

On 18 March 2006, the Algerian operator SNTF announced that it had ordered 64 four-car EMUs for suburban services in Algiers. The trains were delivered between 2008 and 2010.

Azerbaijan

In November 2019, it was announced that Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları (Azerbaijan Railways) had placed a €115 million order for ten Russian gauge Stadler FLIRT units in various configurations, for delivery to start taking place in 2022.

The order specification is as follows:
* 3x EMU for suburban trains
* 3x EMU for regional trains
* 4x DMU for regional trains
Train length is to range between , with capacity varying from 236 to 271 passengers.

Because the Azerbaijan Railway is currently converting the electrification voltage of many lines on its network from 3 kV DC to 25 kV AC, the diesel fleet will be introduced first, allowing the service to be upheld during this conversion process.

Belarus

Ten Russian gauge units were delivered to the Belarusian Railways in 2011. Six more were delivered from 2013 to 2014.

The trains are mostly used on various suburban routes around Minsk, such as Minsk-Pasažyrski to Minsk National Airport. The Stadler FLIRT trains are also used as inter-regional transport in Belarus, on the routes Minsk– Homieĺ, and Minsk–Brest.

Two Stadler FLIRT units with an interior optimised for longer distance (EP^m-class) were delivered to Belarus in 2015 to 2016, and in January 2019, ten more of these trains were ordered for delivery in 2020.

Canada

On 3 May 2018 it was announced that the city of Ottawa would be purchasing 7 diesel-electric FLIRT trains to use on its upgraded and extended Trillium Line. The trains started tests for service in January 2022.

File:Stadler FLIRT train C10 OC Transpo 6459.jpg, OC Transpo FLIRT

Czech Republic

The Czech private operator LEO Express ordered 5 units. Units are modified as InterCity trains. All 5 units have operated on the Prague–Ostrava line since December 2012. Since December 2013 one unit is operated on the Prague– Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště and since December 2014 next one unit is operated on the international route Prague– Košice ( Slovak Republic). The maximum speed of these units is , but in service it is limited to .

File:480 001 Cerhenice1.jpg, thumbnail, Stadler FLIRT of Czech private rail operator Leo Express on the test circuit in Cerhenice, the Czech Republic

Estonia

Elron ordered 18 electric (6 4-car and 12 3-car) and 20 diesel (6 4-car, 8 3-car and 6 2-car) broad-gauged trains. By June 2014 all 38 trains were delivered. This has been the first time FLIRT DMUs were produced. First 5 trains went into service on 1 July 2013 and by January 2014 all old trains were replaced by the new ones. On 16 April 2014 one of the new DMUs that had been operating for just 5 months had an accident near Raasiku (truck collision). The unit was badly damaged. It will go back into service by 2015 when the two damaged carriages will be replaced with new ones.
In November 2014, Elron initiated an investigation into suspected flaws in some diesel trains. Two different build flaws were found in many of the trains and faulty components were replaced under warranty.

File:Stadler Flirt Keila jaamas1.jpg, Estonian Stadler FLIRT EMU 1401 in Keila

Finland

81 4-section broad-gauged FLIRT units, classified as Sm5 in the Finnish system, have been ordered by Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy (a joint venture between the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen) for service on the Helsinki commuter rail network. The Sm5 units are leased by Pääkaupunkiseudun junakalusto to the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, but they are currently operated by the VR Group. The initial order in 2006 was for 32 trainsets. 9 further units were ordered in 2011 and 34 further units in 2014.

The first Sm5 unit arrived in Finland on 11 November 2008. Following preliminary testing the first unit was displayed to the public in Helsinki on 17 December 2008. During the remainder of on 2008 and for most of 2009 the Sm5 units were extensively tested in different parts of Finland. The first unit entered passenger service on 18 November 2009.

File:JKOY_Sm5_at_Tuomarila_Station_2019.jpg, Finnish Sm5-class EMU in Tuomarila

Germany

The Cantus Verkehrsgesellschaft, a joint subsidiary of Hessische Landesbahn and Hamburger Hochbahn, became the first German FLIRT operator when they received their first train in 2006. Their fleet consists of 14 three-car and 6 four-car units.

Since December 2007 Abellio Rail NRW has operated 9 3-car and 8 2-car FLIRT trains for regional routes between Essen, Hagen, Iserlohn and Siegen. This was the first time that a FLIRT with only two sections was ordered.

Also since December 2007 WestfalenBahn uses 14 3-car and 5 five-car trains for trains services in the Teutoburg Forest region.

In 2006 DB Regio, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn ordered 5 5-section vehicles for regional services on the German east coast. The trains were delivered in August 2007 and, until December 2019, were used on the routes Rostock– Stralsund–Lietzow–Sassnitz (Hanse-Express), Sassnitz– Stralsund and Binz–Lietzow. Since October 2020, they run the RB17 (Wismar – Ludwigslust).

The biggest order from Germany so far came in October 2006 from the leasing company Angel Trains Europa when they ordered 25 4-car FLIRT trains. All 25 units have been leased to Eurobahn who uses them on the Hellweg Network in North Rhine-Westphalia. Only a year later, in November 2007, Angel Trains ordered 4 more four-car and 14 five-car trains that will also be used by Eurobahn. In 2017, Eurobahn also took over the WestfalenBahn operation of the Teutoburger-Wald-Network, taking over 18 FLIRT 1 units, as well as ordering 8 new FLIRT 3 units.

On the InnoTrans 2008, a trade fair focused on rail transport, Vias announced their order for 12 four-section and 7 three-section units. Starting in December 2010, the trains were put on the Frankfurt– Koblenz route. The same year, the Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) started to operate 3 three- and 5 six car FLIRT units on the Frankfurt – Gießen – Siegen line.

Starting in December 2013, the Bayerische Oberlandbahn, called Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) since 2020, uses 3 three car and 28 six car FLIRTs for their Meridian services, which run between Munich-Salzburg and Kufstein. Since August 2014, the ownership of the trains was transferred to AlphaTrains, only to be leased back for the Meridian.

From December 2014 on, the RE 1 (Koblenz – Trier (– Luxembourg /) – Saarbrücken – Ludwigshafen – Mannheim), RE 2 (Koblenz – Frankfurt), RE 4 (Frankfurt (Main) – Mainz – Ludwigshafen – Karlsruhe), RE 14 (Frankfurt (Main) – Mainz – Ludwigshafen – Mannheim), are operated with FLIRT 3 units, with the RE 1 being coupled with a CFL-operated KISS between Trier and Koblenz.

Go-Ahead Germany ordered 45 units in 2016 for delivery in 2019.

Transdev ordered 64 3-car units in November 2018, planned to enter service in 2021 on Hanover S-Bahn lines. In June 2019, Transdev subsidiary NordWestBahn awarded Stadler a €100m order to supply 16 Flirt electric multiple-units for the Bremen/Niedersachsen S-Bahn services. The trains will enter service starting December 2022.

In July 2019, Schleswig-Holstein rail authority NAH.SH awarded Stadler a €600m order for 55 battery-powered Flirt Akku multiple unit trains along with maintenance for 30 years. The trains, which offer of battery range, will start entering service in 2022 and replace DMUs on non-electrified routes.

File:WFB ET 005.jpg, FLIRT of WestfalenBahn
File:Flirt 190.jpg, FLIRT of DB Regio
File:Abellio ET 25 2302 -- Praest.jpg, FLIRT of Abellio NRW

Hungary

* Hungarian State Railways operates 60 units (deliveries between 2007 and 2010). Technical details: single voltage 25 kV, maximum speed 160 km/h, four section trains with 200+11 (folding) seats, up to 3 trains can be connected together. Red-black-white livery.
* Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth railway (in 2012 ordered 4 units, delivery until Q2 2014. First 2 units arrived on 6 December 2014 and started their public service on 15 December of the same year.)
* Hungarian State Railways (in 2013 ordered further 42 units, delivery until Q3 2015). The first 2 units arrived on 27 February 2014 and the first one presented to the public at Kápolnásnyék on 19 March. New units have arrived in new livery of blue and white colour scheme with yellow doors instead of the previous red and white one.
* Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth railway (in 2013 ordered further 6 units, delivery until Q3 2015)
* Hungarian State Railways (in July 2015 ordered further 21 units, delivery until Q4 2016). The first unit arrived on 11 September 2015 These four section units have the same blue and white colour scheme with yellow doors which is the same as the 2013 orders livery.
* Győr–Sopron–Ebenfurth railway in September 2016 ordered further 10 units (the first order of the new FLIRT 3 version, delivery until Q1 2019)

Hungary has the largest fleet of Stadler Flirt EMU trains. MÁV operates 123 units, while GYSEV operate 20 units from this series. (2020)

It's planned that the first 60 units will be equipped with ETCS L2 signaling, control and train protection system, while all newer units are already equipped with ETCS L2. The units will also receive the blue and white colour scheme.

File:MAV Stadler.jpg, MÁV-Start series 415 FLIRT (old red livery)

Italy

In Italy FLIRT are used by 6 regional railways, in total units ordered and built are so divided among the following companies:

Ferrovie del Gargano: name ETR 330, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed . Fleet: three units.

Ferrotramviaria: name ETR 340, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed . Fleet: four units.

SAD used on Val Pusteria Railway name ETR 155 and ETR 170. C.a dual voltage 15 kV AC / 3 kV DC. Fleet: 4 units (ETR 155) and 6 units (ETR 170), In July 2011 have been ordered 8 new units for routes within the jurisdiction of SAD. Now there are (2020) 8 Flirt dual voltage 001-008 (005-008 ex ETR 155) and 24 ETR 170.1/.2 dual / tri voltage (3 kV DC / 15 kV AC / 25 kV 50 Hz)

Sistemi Territoriali: name ETR 340, single voltage to 3 kV DC, maximum speed 0 Fleet: 2 units from 2008, 4 and 16 FLIRT ordered in 2009. The FLIRT ordered in 2009 will be built in conjunction with the AnsaldoBreda: the Stadler Rail will carry vehicles head of convoys, systems of traction and onboard auxiliary, the bogies and bearing while AnsaldoBreda realize intermediate cars, the staging and the final composition of the train and the delivery to the operators at the plant in Pistoia.

Tilo (Switzerland / Italy): RABe 524/ETR 150 C.a dual voltage 15 kV AC / 3 kV DC. Maximum speed . The first 19 units of this type to be delivered were 4 sections long, and were followed by 11 units ordered that 6 sections long and are additionally equipped with the ETCS Level 2 train control system.

Ferrovie Emilia Romagna: 12 units, in conjunction with the construction AnsaldoBreda: the Stadler Rail will carry out the head of the convoys of vehicles, systems, traction and onboard auxiliary, engines and carriages bearing while AnsaldoBreda carry out intermediate cars, the staging and the final composition of the train and the delivery to the operators at the plant in Pistoia.

Valle d'Aosta region (licensed to Trenitalia): BTR 813, EMU-DMU tractions, maximum speed lectric- iesel
File:Sistemi territoriali flirt etr 340.JPG, ETR 340 unit in Italy.

Netherlands

On 23 April 2015 the Netherlands' railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen announced that it was ordering 58 Stadler FLIRT EMUs, comprising 25 4-car units and 33 3-car units, to be delivered by the end of 2016. The very short delivery deadline (20 months), to meet capacity needs, allowed NS to invoke 'urgency mode' provisions in EU procurement rules and place the order without tendering. The 58 FLIRT EMUs for NS were produced at Stadler's plant in Siedlce, Poland, 92 km east of Warsaw, following the order which that plant completed for PKP Intercity in Poland. Meanwhile, Arriva Nederland also ordered two- and three-car units for operation in the province of Limburg.

FLIRT 2, 3 and 4 EMUs are now in service in the Netherlands with the following operators:
*Arriva

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases