ETR 500

ETR 500

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 (FS), it is now operated by Trenitalia on RFI tracks. Because 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.

History

Although Italy was already a pioneer in high speed trains in the 1930s, it was not until the 1960s before the first high speed lines were being studied on. The opening of the Direttissima line, connecting Florence with Rome, in stages between 1978 and 1991 was also a very first in Europe.

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 Pendolino series was not suited for speeds of over 250 km/h.

The new train was to be built by the TREVI ("TREno Veloce Italiano", "Italian Fast Train") formed by Ansaldobreda, FIAT Ferroviaria (later Alstom), Bombardier Transportation Italy and Firema Trasporti.

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.

First generation

Infobox EMU
name = ETR.500 (mono-current)



imagesize = 200px
caption = ETR.500 mono-current powercar at Roma Termini.
Manufacturer = Trevi (consortium of Alstom, Bombardier, AnsaldoBreda)
Operator = FS/Trenitalia
Formation = 11-car trainset
Built = 30 trainsets
InService = 1992-2007
Refurbishment= 2006-2008, transformation into E.414
Power= 8800kW
SafetySystem = RS4, SCMT
CarLength = 327.6 m (trainset)
Weight = 598 t
Capacity = 187 (1st class)
469 (2nd class)
MaxSpeed = 300 km/h
Gauge = 1,435 mm
Voltage = 3000 V DC
After the success of the 2 prototypes, FS decided to order 30 mono-current trainsets. Delivered between 1992 and 1996, with interiors 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.

econd generation

Infobox EMU
name = ETR.500 (bi/tri-current)



imagesize = 200px
caption = ETR.500 "AV" at Milano Centrale.
Manufacturer = Trevi (consortium of Alstom, Bombardier, AnsaldoBreda)
Operator = FS/Trenitalia
Formation = 11-car trainset (ETR.500 P)
8-car trainset (ETR.500 F)
Built = 30 complete trainsets , 60 motorcars (for former mono-current sets)
InService = 2000-2005
Power= 8800kW
SafetySystem = RS4, SCMT, ETCS (+ KVB and TVM430 for ETR.500 F)
CarLength = 327.6 m (trainset)
Weight = 598 t
Capacity = ETR.500 P:
187 (1st class)
469 (2nd class)
ETR.500 F
136 (1st class)
268 (2nd class)
MaxSpeed = 300 km/h
Gauge = 1,435 mm
Voltage = 3000 V DC, 25000 V AC (+ 1500 V DC for ETR.500 F)
With the new high-speed lines finally in construction, FS chose to electrify the lines at 25kV instead of 3kV as used on the classic network. This allows the trains to drive at their top speed of 300 km/h, as 3kV is technically limited to 250 km/h operation. As the first generation trains can not operate off 25kV AC, new trains had to be ordered.

The new motorcars of the trains feature a totally different design than the first generation trainsets, although also designed by design company Pininfarina. These new trains, delivered between 2000 and 2005 consist of 2 motorcars , four 1st class cars, a restaurant car, and six 2nd class cars.

The second generation trains can be divided in multiple sub-series:
* ETR.500 P (with motorcars numbered E.404 501-560): trainset built as new.
* ETR.500 P (with motorcars numbered E.404 601-660): motorcars built as new with cars from the former mono-current trainsets.
* ETR.500 F: trainsets designed to operate in France. These sets were tested in 2003 and 2005 on the LGV Nord line between Calais and Lille, with trainset 24 setting a record speed of 335 km/h. Despite the tests the sets still aren't approved to drive in France. These sets have only 8 cars instead of 11 of a normal set, and are composed as following: three 1st class cars, a restaurant car, and four 2nd class cars.

ee also

*Treno Alta Velocità
*ElettroTreno
*Trenitalia
*Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
*Pendolino
*New Pendolino
*Eurostar Italia
*High-speed rail in Turkey

References

*"Der italienische Hochgeschwindigkeitszug ETR 500 (1. Auslieferung)". [http://www.hochgeschwindigkeitszuege.com/italy/index_etr_500.htm Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge.com] (German)
*"Der italienische Hochgeschwindigkeitszug ETR 500 (2. Serie)". [http://www.hochgeschwindigkeitszuege.com/italy/index_etr_500p.htm Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge.com] (German)

External links

* [http://www.tav.it/ TAV]
* [http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/it/electric/emu/ETR500/pix.html European Railway Picture Gallery]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ETR 500 — (Triebkopf E.404) Anzahl: 57 Hersteller: TREVI Baujahr(e): ab 1992 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ETR 500 — (FS) Une rame ETR 500 Frecciarossa en gare de Milan, Italie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Etr 500 — L ETR 500 est le premier train à grande vitesse non pendulaire (contrairement au Pendolino) conçu en Italie. Le projet date des années 1980 pour aboutir, avec certaines modifications dans les années 1990, à la production en série et à la mise en… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ETR 500 — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Un tren ETR 500 en la estación Venezia Santa Lucia / julio de 2007 El ETR 500 es el primer tren de alta velocidad con centro de gravedad no pendulante construido en Italia. El proyecto nace en la década de 1980 y “ve …   Wikipedia Español

  • FS ETR 500 — ETR 500 (Triebkopf E.404) Anzahl: 57 Hersteller: TREVI Baujahr(e): ab 1992 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Etr 450 — Une rame Fiat Pendolino ETR 450 L ETR 450 est un train pendulaire Pendolino à grande vitesse, conçu et fabriqué par le constructeur italien Fiat Ferroviaria dans les années 1970. Ce train révolutionnaire à l époque, dérive du premier du genre, l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ETR 490 — Alaris 490 en provenancede Madrid Puerta de Atocha arrive à Silla …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ETR 1000 — Identification Exploitant(s) : Trenitalia Désignation : ETR 1000 Composition  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Etr 460 — Rame Fiat Pendolino ETR 460 des chemins de fer italiens Trenitalia …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Etr 401 — L ETR 401 (ETR = ElettroTreno Rapido) fut la première rame à grande vitesse pendulaire active au monde qui fut mise en service commercial régulier en 1976. Le prototype du Pendolino, l ETR 401 Précurseur de la famille des trains Fiat Pendolino,… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”