| SBB RABDe 500 | |
|---|---|
 Two RABDe trainsets passingLake Biel in 2011 | |
 Inside view of the ICN second class corridor | |
| In service | 2000–present |
| Manufacturer | Adtranz |
| Designer | Pininfarina |
| Number built | 44 |
| Number in service | 44 |
| Formation | 7 cars |
| Fleet numbers | 500 000–500 043 |
| Capacity | 470 |
| Owners | Swiss Federal Railways |
| Lines served | |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 188,800 mm (619 ft 5 in) |
| Maximum speed | 200 km/h (125 mph) |
| Weight | 355 t (349 long tons; 391 short tons) |
| Power output | 5,200 kW (7,000 hp) |
| Electric system(s) | 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC |
| Notes/references | |
| [1] | |
TheSBB RABDe 500, also known as theICN,[a] is aSwisshigh speedpassengerEMU, which was introduced in 2000, in time forExpo.02 held in western Switzerland in 2002. Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (125 mph), and it employstilting technology, which allows it to travel through curvy routes faster than non-tilting trains. The train sets were a joint development byBombardier,Swiss Federal Railways andAlstom, with an aerodynamic body designed byPininfarina,bogies and tilting mechanism designed by the thenSIG, Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft.
Forty-four RABDe 500 trains with a total of 308 coaches were delivered to SBB-CFF-FFS between 1999 and 2005. The RABDe 500 often run with two complete compositions, each with seven carriages and a seating capacity of 480,[3] both including a dining car. The outer four of the seven carriages are second class.
Swiss Federal Railways ordered an initial 24 7-car trainsets in 1996 at a cost ofCHF 500 million. The contract went to a consortium includingAdtranz,Schindler Waggon [de], andFiat-SIG.[4]Pininfarina designed the vehicle body.[5] The trains were intended for use on theJura Foot Line; adoptingtilting technology allowed SBB to defer track upgrades over the route.[6]
The first trainsets entered service on the 28 May 2000 timetable change, running fromSt. Gallen viaWinterthur,Zürich andBiel/Bienne toLausanne.[7] All 24 trainsets were in service by the opening of theExpo.02 national exposition in May 2002. The trains all carried the slogan "enable the future" (French:Permettre le futur).[8]
SBB ordered another 10 trainsets, with an option for 10 more, in June 2001. SBB exercised the option that December, for a total of 20 additional transets atCHF 420 million.[9][2] Delivery was complete by 2005.[1]
Formerly, SBB designated intercity services operated by the SBB RABDe 500 as "ICN", differentiating them from otherInterCity (IC) andInterRegio (IR) services. This practice ceased with the December 2017 timetable changes, in which all IC and IR services gained numbers and the ICN category was eliminated.[10] RABDe 500-operated services are indicated on timetables and mobile applications by the "TT" label.[11]
All 44 trainsets were refurbished between 2012 and 2019, an overhaul taking 25 days per train.[12] Another overhaul, taking place between 2021 and 2029, will replace the interiors and improve mobile phone reception.[13]
As of the December 2024 timetable change,[update] the RABDe 500 is primarily used on twoInterCity routes and oneInterRegio route: the IC 5, running fromLausanne toRorschach orZürich HB; the IC 51, running fromBasel SBB toBiel/Bienne; and the IR 57 running fromGeneva Airport toNeuchâtel.[14]
Each formation is composed of seven cars. The first two and last two cars in the trainset are the second class cars, and have the traction motors and powered axles. The three middle cars carry first class seating; the third car is split between first class and the restaurant car.[1] The formation is 188,800 mm (619 ft 5 in) long and weighs 355 t (349 long tons; 391 short tons). The car body is amonocoque design built out of aluminium.[5]
The RABDe 500 can tilt at a maximum of 8 degrees.[7] Eight 650-kilowatt (870 hp) traction motors produce 5,200 kilowatts (7,000 hp); the train can travel at a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph).[1] On routes with a significant number of curves, the tilting technology could reduce travel times by 10–20%.[15] For example, on theLausanne–St. Gallen route, the introduction of the trains shortened travel times by 15 minutes.[7]
In 2015–2016, eighteen trainsets were adapted for operation in theGotthard Base Tunnel. Changes included improved fire detection equipment, cab signaling upgrades, and improvements to heating and cooling.[15] This was a temporary measure until newer non-tilting trainsSBB RABe 501 (Giruno) trains became available.[16]
All forty-four RABDe 500 trains are named, mostly after famous Swissscholars,artists,writers,politicians,engineers, andarchitects. Each train bears the portrait of its namesake, painted by Bernese painter Martin Fivian, in the third car (first class andrestaurant).[17]
List of names:[1]
