ČD Class 680

ČD Class 680 are EMUs operating in the Czech Republic, using tilting Pendolino technology. Built by Alstom (originally Fiat Ferroviaria), they were largely based on the nine-car ETR 470. While testing from Břeclav to Brno on November 18, 2004, the Pendolino reached a speed of 237 km/h (147 mph) and created a new Czech railway speed record.[1] The units are able to operate on 25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC and 3,000 V DC.

Original interior in Second Class
ČD Class 680
ČD 680 departing Ostrava hlavní nádraží, heading to Košice, Slovakia.
Refurbished First Class carriage
ManufacturerAlstom (formerly Fiat Ferroviaria)
Family namePendolino
Constructed2004
Entered service2006
Number builtSeven 7-car sets
Formationsee text
Operator(s)České dráhy
Specifications
Train length185.3 m (607 ft 11 1⁄4 in)
Maximum speed
  • Design: 230 km/h (140 mph)
  • Service: 200 km/h (120 mph)
  • Record: 237 km/h (150 mph)
Weight384.0 t (377.9 long tons; 423.3 short tons)
Power outputEight 490 kW (660 hp) traction motors, 3,920 kW (5,260 hp) total
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC
15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
3,000 V DC Catenary
Current collection methodPantograph
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
ČD Supercity Pendolino
Intercity Services
km
0
 Františkovy Lázně
7
 Cheb
37
 Mariánské Lázně
49
 Planá u Mariánských Lázní
80
 Stříbro
113
 Plzeň hl.n.
222
 Praha Smíchov
226
 Praha hl.n.
330
 Pardubice hl.n.
476
 Olomouc hl.n.
577
 Ostrava Svinov
582
 Ostrava hl.n.
590
 Bohumín

History

The initial Czech order for tilting trains was placed with Fiat Ferroviaria during 2000. As part of the Alstom take over of Fiat Ferroviaria the order was changed to Pendolino trains. The first set was delivered in 2004 as Pendolino ČD 680.

During the testing period, the train had problems with the Czech signaling system. The problems were reported to have been solved and the trains entered regular service in December 2005 between Prague and Ostrava. As of late January 2006, all five of the in-service trains suffered from software and operating problems, ranging from failing air conditioning and heating to malfunctions of the tilt controls. The supposedly ERTMS-compliant ATLAS control system is unable to properly connect several discrete systems, each based on different software platforms. Similar problems have also been reported with the Finnish VR Class Sm3. All problems were fixed.

The train was featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. While in reality, the Pendolino does not actually operate the route, in the movie it was shown traveling from Switzerland to Montenegro. In the 2008 movie Wanted, the train was featured with real Czech Railways logo and equipment.

Formation

The seven car units are composed as:

Class NºTypeClass
681Driving Motor2nd
081Trailer1st
683MotorBuffet 2nd
084Trailer2nd
684Motor2nd
082Trailer2nd
682Driving Motor2nd

Cars are individually numbered, with the driving motors carrying their numbers on the nose.

Operations

In December 2006 Czech Pendolinos were given permission to operate in Slovakia and Austria.

In 2009 and 2011, one pair of ČD 680s operated as SuperCity Slovenská Strela between Prague and Bratislava. However, it was cancelled due to a low demand, since the train was not actually faster, but more expensive.[2]

During 2015 ČD Pendolinos operated nine trips a day in each direction on the Prague-Pardubice-Olomouc-Ostrava route, with some continuing to Bohumín and one continuing to the Slovak city of Košice. Twice a day the service is extended from Prague to Františkovy Lázně via Plzeň.[3]

Accidents
  • On December 1, 2007 a Pendolino derailed in Prague. No one was injured but the train was severely damaged.[4]
  • On July 22, 2015 train SC 512 en route from Bohumín to Františkovy Lázně collided with a truck at a railway crossing. Three passengers died and 17 people were injured.
Main article: 2015 Studénka train crash
gollark: PotatOS actually does patch _G that way.
gollark: Oh, you mean it's actually just `{a, b, c, d}` and not strings/numbers/etc?
gollark: `textutils.unserialise`
gollark: Wait, abby has a mod?
gollark: I expect this might lead to more non-auth-server using servers, if that's possible.

See also
  • List of ČD Classes
  • List of high speed trains

References
  1. martin (2005-02-17). "Portál Pendolino.cz - 237 km/h: Nový rychlostní rekord české železnice". Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  2. sk:SC Slovenská strela
  3. http://www.scpendolino.cz/cs_CZ/kdy-kde-jede/jizdni-rad-sc-pendolino-2010/:/page.xhtml
  4. "Pendolino v Praze vykolejilo na poškozené kolejnici" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.