Some nice press
Yes, they will!
Stadler of Switzerland has come up with an extraordinary successful design, which has become very popular with many European railroads.
More info is here:
I agree. They make a very high quality product.
Hi - Agree with the other posters that this is a very high-quality DMU, but the on-going, proper “care & feeding” of the toys is also critical to their long-term success. Art
Is the FRA seriously considering letting an off-the-shelf European DMU out on a line with freight traffic? If so, this is really big news! (or are they going to demand temporal separation ala Austin and South Jersey River Line)
No power source was mentioned. I’m assuming these are diesel rail cars?
Thanks for the info!
Why on earth has there been all the futzing around with HSR and such in the US when real, attractive, affordable rail service could be developed with these??
http://www.stadlerrail.com/en/vehicles/flirt/
For instance, Chicago-St.Louis on the (virtually) no-freight upgraded Alton line.
Yes the Stadler GTW is diesel powered, though in Europe there are a small number of electric versions. Stadler developed the electric powered FLIRT and KISS designs succeeding the electric versions of the GTWs
Not a small number. The Diesel powered version is the exception in Europe. FLIRT trains are by no means an alternative to HSR trains, think of them as commuter trains or short distance regional trains. Top speed does not exceed 100 mph, which is OK for commuter trains, but too slow for long distance runs on a HSR network. The Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland is now taking delivery of a narrow gauge (1000 mm) version for their network.
Thanks for the response beaulieu! NJ Transit might just be interested in a few sets of these if they ever get around to rehabilitating the old Erie Northern Branch route.
Ulrich (Sir Madog), I am aware that Stadler has built over 700 FLIRT EMUs, when I said small numbers I was refering to the electric version of the GTW, which if you look closely is very different in structural design, even if the ends share the same Stadler look. Stadler has built both 200 kph versions of the FLIRT (for Norway’s NSB) and fitted with InterCity level Interiors (for LEO Express in the Czech Republic), just not both features in the same vehicle.
Now for the difference between a electric GTW and a FLIRT
BLS’ RABe 526 is a 3-section electric GTW 2/8 EMU the wheel arrangement is 2-Bo-2-2
SBB’s RABe 521 is a 4-section FLIRT EMU the wheel arrangement is Bo-2-2-2-Bo
A FLIRT always has a powered bogie (truck) under the outer ends of the set, the GTW has a Bogie under the powerpack if it is electric 2/8.