ETR 500
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ETR 500 (Elettro Treno Rapido 500) is a family of Italian high-speed trains introduced in 1993.
Designed under the aegis of the Ferrovie dello Stato, it is now operated by Trenitalia on RFI tracks. Due to the fact that most of the Italian high-speed network is still under construction, these trains often run at speeds lower than the 300 km/h at which they were designed to run.
Contents |
[edit] History
Although Italy was already a pioneer in high speed trains in the 1930s, it wasn't until the 1960s before the first high speed lines were being studied on. The opening of the Direttissima, connecting Florence with Rome, in stages between 1978 and 1991 was also a very first in Europe, but Italy still limped behind compared to other European countries.
In the 1990s FS finally unveiled plans to build a whole new high speed network. As the larger part of the network would be suited for speeds of 300 km/h, new, non-tilting trains had to be designed as the tilting equipment used in the ETR.450, 460 and 480 series wasn't suited for speeds of over 250 km/h.
[edit] The prototypes
In 1988 the first prototype motorcar, called "ETR.500-X" and nicknamed "Remo", rolled out of the factory in Vado Ligure. It was tested on the Direttissima in the consist with a measuring car and an E 444 locomotive and reached a record speed of 319 km/h.
In 1990 the 2 first complete trainsets, called "ETR.500-Y" and nicknamed "Romolo" were delivered. They were used as test units between their delivery and 1995, when the first production sets entered into service.Between 1995 and 1997 they were also used in normal commercial service when there was a shortage of normal ETR.500 trainsets.
The 3 motorcars of the prototype sets are stabled at different locations in Italy and have unfortunately been vandalised and graffitized. The middle cars of the 2 "ETR.500-Y" sets are now part of the two RFI ETR.500 test trains Y1 and Y2.
[edit] First generation
| ETR.500 (mono-current) | |
|---|---|
 ETR.500 mono-current powercar at Roma Termini. |
|
|
|
|
| In service | 1992-2007 |
| Manufacturer | Trevi (consortium of Alstom, Bombardier, AnsaldoBreda) |
| Refurbishment | 2006-2008, transformation into E.414 |
| Number built | 30 trainsets |
| Formation | 11-car trainset |
| Capacity | 187 (1st class) 469 (2nd class) |
| Operator | FS/Trenitalia |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 327.6 m (trainset) |
| Maximum speed | 300 km/h |
| Weight | 598 t |
| Power output | 8800kW |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm |
| Voltage | 3000 V DC |
| Safety systems | RS4 |
After the success of the 2 prototypes, FS decided to order 30 mono-current trainsets. Delivered between 1992 and 1996 and styled by design company Pininfarina, they consist of 2 motorcars (numbered E.404 100 to 159), four 1st class cars, a restaurant car, and six 2nd class cars. Although suited for driving 300 km/h, they were limited to 250 km/h on the Direttissima as the current drawn from the catenary at 300 km/h would be too high. This was also the reason why a second generation, dual-voltage trains was ordered.
Major routes of this train were Chiusi-Milan, Florence-Naples, Milan-Rome Termini, Milan-Naples, Bologna-Rome Termini, Milan-Salerno, Milan-Venice, Venice-Rome Termini.
Between 2006 and 2008, all motorcars of the first generation trains are being refurbished and transformed into locomotives of the type E.414, and will haul EuroStarCity trains on selected routes. These trains consist of two E.414 locomotives and 10 former Intercity UIC-Z coaches. Although the coaches are "normal" Intercity coaches, they will mostly remain in semi-permanent coupled formation with the two E.414 locomotives.
The middle cars of the first generation trains will be coupled to new E.404.6 dual-voltage motorcars.
[edit] Second generation
[edit] See also
- Treno Alta Velocità
- ElettroTreno
- Trenitalia
- Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
- Pendolino
- New Pendolino
- Eurostar Italia
- High-speed rail in Turkey
[edit] References
- Der italienische Hochgeschwindigkeitszug ETR 500 (1. Auslieferung).Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge.com (German)
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||
 |
This European railway-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
