The SNCF Z 800 is an

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a numbe ...

train used on the

Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway The Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway ( French: ''Ligne de Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet à Vallorcine''), also known as the Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine Line, is a single-track long metre gauge railway in France connecting the SNCF's Sain ...

. They were purchased in a joint order by

SNCF The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (; abbreviated as SNCF ; French for "National society of French railroads") is France's national state-owned railway company. Founded in 1938, it operates the country's national rail traffi ...

and the

Martigny–Châtelard Railway The Martigny–Châtelard Railway, abbreviated MC, French ''Chemins de fer Martigny–Châtelard'', is a rack railway in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The transport company "Chemin de fer de Martigny–Châtelard" merged in 2001, the re ...

(MCR) on March 30, 1994. Five trainsets were produced: three for SNCF (one of which was financed by the Rhône-Alpes region), and two for the MCR.

Development

As the Z 600 transits were wearing out, replacement for them was envisioned at the end of the 1980s. A joint order was created with SNCF and the MCR to replace the existing Z 600 transits. Five transits were ordered in 1994 from a consortium made up of Vevey Technologies (project coordination, assembly and construction of the boxes), Adtranz (electrical equipment) and SLM Winterthur (bogies, braking and rack and pinion equipment).

Description

For the trains be able to operate from Fayet to Martigny, they are equipped with security systems corresponding to the two lines. They can operate on the rack sections of the TMRs. Current collection is done by 3rd rail shoe or pantograph. The Z 800 multiple units are permanently coupled in pairs. There are power and communications connections the two multiple units of a train. The three SNCF trains are numbered Z 801/802 (train 1), Z 803/804 (train 2) and Z 805/806 (train 3), while those of the MC are Z 821 / 822 (train No. 21) and Z 823/824 (train No. 22). However, these are numbered BDeh 4/8 n ° 821/822 and 823/824 in the nomenclature of TMR. The odd numbered railcar is directed towards Fayet, and the even number railcar is directed towards

Martigny Martigny (; german: Martinach, ; la, Octodurum) is the capital city of the district of Martigny, canton of Valais, Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of , and its population is approximately 15000 inhabitants (''Martignerains'' or "Octodurie ...

. The new trainsets were delivered in 1996-1997, with three for SNCF and two for the MCR. Each unit is equipped with two bogies with two axles including a carrier and a motor. The motors have a power output of 1000 kW. A train can reach 70 km/h on an easy profile, on 70 mm/m (7 %)

ramps An inclined plane, also known as a ramp, is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle from the vertical direction, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. The inclined plane is one of the six clas ...

, on upper ramps, and downhill. The Z 800s are equipped with five braking systems: * A compressed air brake applied to the wheels * A rheostatic and

regenerative brake Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed. In this mechanism, the electric traction mo ...

, intended to regulate the descent speed when going downhill * An emergency magnetic brake acting on the rails * A clasp brake * A

disc brake A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hol ...

The trainsets are fitted with a

Scharfenberg coupler The Scharfenberg coupler (german: Scharfenbergkupplung, abbreviated ''Schaku'') is a commonly used type of fully automatic railway coupling. Designed in 1903 by Karl Scharfenberg in Königsberg, Germany (today Kaliningrad, Russia), the coupler ...

, which allows multiple trains to couple connect together during periods of heavy usage. It is also possible to couple them with Z 600 trainsets, which was notably done during test campaigns in 1997.

References

External links

{{SNCF units Z 800 Articulated passenger trains Electric multiple units of France Train-related introductions in 1996