Fast Ligh Innovative Regional Transit
EMUs are the bestseller products for the Stadler Rail AG. The design
has conquered most European countries in use for local trains market
for it's great modularity and advanced features.
Stadler Rail AG * Introduction to
Flirt EMU * Technical
Information * Customers
*
The
Company
Stadler Rail AG has grown agressively from the humble but very
innovative Swiss component company to a multinational rail manufacturer
providing railroad rolling stock and their services to its customers.
According to the company there are 8 manufacturing and
service
operations centers: Bussnang,
Altenrhein, Winterthur (Switzerland), Berlin (Germany), Siedlce
(Poland), Pusztaszabolcs, Szolnok (Hungary) and Algiers (Algeria).
While the beginnings saw many products from the drawing board of
engineer rather than a designer, the real success started with
combining these two in Flirt design. While Flirt design is meant for
the electric design, the compny also manufactures a highly monular GTW
2/6 ansd GTW 2/8 trains for the diesel and multienergy source
environments.  The
Finnish version of the Flirt train (M+2+M) has been found very durable
to the winter conditions. These trains also for the first time show the
3,2 meters wide design, allowing much more room inside for the
passengers. This is enabled by the advanced loading gauge of the
Finnish railways. Picture by Stanislav Voronin 2010.
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The
Flirt EMU
Flirt (Fast Light Innovative regional Transit) is a modular based EMU
design always tailored to the customers specific needs. Usually the
powered ends of the train and its articulated structure remain the
same, as
well as the low floor through the train interior, while the side doors,
windows
and interior accommodations for passengers vary. There are also two to
five modules on the typical train unit. In spite of this modularity in
many levels, it is easy to imagine many solutions being possible to be
transferred from one market of the operators to another and reseller
markets will probably appear later as well for such a well designed
vehicle. Tnis has happened to many other vehicles and the same
phenomenon will be
likely to happen to the Flirt EMUs as well, since the critical mass for
aftermarket is already there.
Picture Above: An SBB class 521 of Switzerland
four modules Flirt train seen here on the German side of the border.
Customers
Customers for
the Flirt design worlwide include the following operators and train
owners (not a complete listing):
- Angel
Trains Eurobahn, Germany: 25
Flirt EMUs, 4 car configuration, 15 KV AC 16,7 Hz electric system, 1435
mm gauge
- Biela Russian Railways: The order
was announced at the same time the Estonian order.
- Deutsche
Bahn AG, Germany: 5 EMUs, 5
car, 15kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Elektriraudtee of Estonia, the
latest addition to the long customer list. 18 trains in order starting
2013.
- Masovia
Region, Poland: 10 EMUs,
4car, 3000V, 1435 mm
- MAV of Hungary
- Pääkaupunkiseudun
Junakalusto Oy,
Finland: 32 EMUs, 4 car, 25kV 50Hz, 1524 mm
- SBB/CFF,
Germany / Switzerland / Italy :
- S-Bahn
Basel (Switzerland):
20 EMUs, 4 car, 15 kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Stadtbahn
Zug
(Switzerland): 12 EMUs, 4 car, 15kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Wiesental
(Germany / Switzerland): 10 EMUs, 4 car, 15 kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Silesia
Region,
Poland: 4 EMUs, 4 car, 3000V DC, 1435 mm
- Sistemi
Teritoriali (ST), Italy: 2
EMUs, 4 car, 3000V DC, 1435 mm
- SNTF,
Algeria:
64 EMUs, 4 car, 25 kV 50 Hz, 1435 mm
- List to be continued soon.
Shiny
new paint covers the brand new Finnish Flirt unit number 01 of the
Junakalusto
at the end of the year 2008. Here the unit is seen
inside the service building in Helsinki providing a shelter from the
harsh Finnish winter weather.
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Flirt
Technical Information
There
are currently around 800 Flirt EMUs either in use or in orders from
Stadler Rail. This
makes the type one of the most successfull in Europe and Africa.
Interestingly the
type has been a great success even among
the
smaller train owners / operators providing chance for new types
organizating the rail traffic outside the huge national railroad
companies.
Type: Flirt
(Fast Light
Innovative Regional Transit), modular EMU
Usage: Local and regional transit, some intercity transit on
shorter
distances
Builder:
Stadler
Rail AG
Production
dates: 2002 - current
Numbers
built or ordered: over 800
Gauge: almost 100% on normal gauge 1435 mm, Finnish
version 1524 mm (5 ft) gauge, Estonian version 1520 mm gauge
Users: Tens
of train owners /
operators in Europe and Africa.
Possibly
seen in: Europe and North Africa
Energy Source:
1500V DC, 3000V
DC, 15 kV 16,7 Hz, 25kV 50 Hz or any customer specified energy
source
Power output
for typical 4 unit
EMU: 2000 kW continuous
Traction motors: in the front
and rear bogies, except on the 2 unit train when the other end is a
driving trailer.
Tractive Effort
(4 cars): 200
kN
Wheel arrangement: Bo'2'2'2'Bo' (Bo'2'Bo' -
Bo'2'2'2'2'Bo')
Maximum
operational speed:
typically 160 km/h, in Poland 120 km/h
Length
(4 cars typical): 74 - 75
meters
Heigth: 4,1 - 4,4 m
Width: 2880
mm, Finnish variant
3200 mm
Weight:
120 - 132 metric tons
Axle weight max:
up to 18,5 tons 
Here
the Flirt class Sm5 number 01 is seen on the test drive in Kerava early
2009. The
attractive white-gray-blue-green livery is a welcome alternative to the
VR-Yhtymas all red and white newer paint schemes. The VR-Yhtyma huge
Sm4 by Bombardier / CAF / Fiat gives a good estimate on the size of
the
new Flirt train.
This
picture was taken on PKJs Finnish class Sm5 test run in Tikkurila, near
Helsinki
Finland. On the picture
aboce the Flirt train is preparing to leave nort towards Kerava. Harsh
Finnish winter weather provides a great test for any new train unit!
When
operation is possible in winter conditions, other weather types should
not provide any obstacles for operations.
Picture above and 2 below: The driving pulpet of the
Flirt train provides everything well designed for the reach of the
driver as well as a huge amount of information accessible through the
computers should there be need to use this. The EKE marked device above
is the Finnish train control system manufactured currently by the EKE
engineering. This is an obligatory equipment, since Finland has not yet
been able to invest to cover even the most used railsections with the
European standard ETCS system.
The typical inside views to the roomy passenger
compartment of the Flirt train. The doors in this case are provided
with heat curtains which keep the warm air from flowing out when
the train is stopping in the cold weather.
Info panels and audio systems provide passengers with
sufficient information of the current route. You can also check the
outside temperature and the speed among other variables.
Above is one of the most published pictures of a Flirt
train in the professional railroad magazines. The picture was taken by
Stanislav Voronin in kerava during the trial runs for the PKJs EMUs.
You might also be interested in other pictures by Stanislav on his Winter
Visions Page. For publishing permissions on any picture, please
contact us by our info form.
More
pictures and information will follow later!
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Created
for
4rail.net by John McKey. Pictures by Ilkka Siissalo,
Stanislav Voronin and
Photo Ranger.
Also in this section
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