MI 09

The MI 09 is a double-deck, dual-voltage electric multiple unit ordered by the RATP in 2009. They are intended to replace the MI 84 and MS 61 trains operating on line A of the Paris RER network.

Mi09 Z1600
MI 09 set on the Nanterre viaduct
In service	2011-present
Manufacturer	Alstom, Bombardier
Family name	X'Trapolis
Replaced	all MS61 and all MI84 on RER A
Constructed	2010–2016
Entered service	5 December 2011
Number in service	700 vehicles, 140 trains
Formation	5 cars per trainset
Operator(s)	RATP
Depot(s)	Torcy, Rueil Malmaison, Sucy en Brie, Achères
Line(s) served	RER A
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	22,000 mm (72 ft 2 in)
Width	2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Height	4,320 mm (14 ft 2 in)
Doors	3 pairs per side
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Weight	288 Tons
Traction system	Alstom OniX CADIX IGBT-VVVF (liquid cooling)
Power output	3900 kW
Acceleration	3.3 km/(h⋅s) (2.1 mph/s)
Deceleration	5.0 km/(h⋅s) (3.1 mph/s) (emergency brake)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC / 25 000 V AC 50Hz overhead catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph type AX 25
Braking system(s)	Regenerative brake , disc brakes.Electrodynamic
Coupling system	Scharfenberg type
Multiple working	only Mi09
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)

The 140 five-car trains were manufactured by a consortium of French manufacturer Alstom and Canadian conglomerate Bombardier. The MI 09 is considered to be a part of Alstom's X'Trapolis Duplex platform and are an evolution of the MI 2N series, which has been in use since 1998. Final assembly of the type was performed by Alstom in their Valenciennes facility and by Bombardier at its factory in Crespin between 2010 and 2017. The first set was placed into regular passenger service on 5 December 2011.

History

The MI09 is a five-car, double-deck commuter train that is operated upon line A of the Paris RER; which is the busiest regional line in Europe.[1] The train is designed based on the MI 2N trains, which were built between 1990 and 2000, and were developed by the same Alstom-Bombardier consortium as the later MI 09.[1]

During April 2009, an initial €917 million ($992 million), order for the manufacture and delivery of a batch of 60 MI09 trainsets was placed by Transport Syndicate of the Ile de France (STIF) and RATP Group.[2] The financing of the procurement came from multiple sources; RATP provided €617 million ($667 million) of funding, while the €300 million ($324 million) remainder of STIF.[1] Prior to the first completion of the first batch, negotiations were undertaken for multiple additional orders for the type by the STIF and RATP. In June 2012, a follow-on order for 70 additional trainsets, valued at €1 billion ($1.3 billion), was issued to Alstom, while a smaller order for an additional ten MI09s, valued at €150 million ($162 million), came during early 2015.[3][4]

On 8 February 2011, the first MI 09 trainset was officially unveiled; at this point, certification testing was underway using three MI 09s.[5] During December 2011, the first trainset commenced revenue operations;[6] by July 2015, the existing MI 09 trains have accumulated in excess of 24 million kilometres while in service.[1] During July 2015, it was announced that the 100th example of the type had been delivered to the end user.[7] The introduction of the MI 09 has allowed for the complete replacement of the older MI 84 single-decker trains on the RER A line, as well as the eventual replacement of all the MS 61 trainsets as well. In comparison to the retired MI 84, the MI 09 has a far greater more capacity, capable of accommodating up to approximately 50 per cent more passengers, while also benefitting from a reduced rate of energy consumption by 55 per cent.[1]

In a standard five-carriage configuration, the MI 09 has a length of 112 meters and a width of 2.9 meters, in which 2,600 seated and standing passengers can be accommodated.[1] To facilitate speedy boarding times, each carriage features three doors, each having a width of 2 meters, on each side of the vehicle, while the floors of the carriages have been purposefully designed to be level to the platforms.[1] To readily facilitate travel by people of reduced mobility, 34 dedicated seats are installed on each train along with two areas intended for use by passengers in wheelchairs; seats are also furnished with accessible support bars. As to better accommodate periods of very high passenger turnout, such as during special events or rush hour, a pair of MI 09s can also be connected together and operated as a single ten-carriage trainset.[1]

The MI 09 possesses a maximum design speed of 120 km/h.[1] It is equipped with an efficient electrical braking system and a high-performance traction chain, which is promoted as being responsible for considerably lower energy consumption. By using electrical braking, less pollutants are both used and emitted than a conventional counterpart, especially in terms of particle emissions; the refrigerated ventilation system also consumes less energy than a traditional air-conditioning system.[1] As a management aid and maintenance-reduction measure, an integrated train-to-ground Wi-Fi link is also installed upon each trainset.[1]

Reportedly, considerable attention was paid to the aesthetic design of the MI 09 during the train's development process.[1] The boarding areas have been designed to facilitate greater transparency, while the interior has been configured to enable a full view to be attained of both the upper and lower decks. The internal lighting system uses a series of porthole-shaped fixtures, which are claimed to provide an agreeable ambience within the carriage.[1] The seats themselves were designed to incorporate a floral and plant-like theme. Each carriage features onboard auditory and visual information systems, which includes a pair of LCD monitors present in both the upper and lower decks. For security and safety purposes, a CCTV surveillance system has been integrated that covers all interior areas. The interior design of the MI 09 had been largely produced by MBD Design.[1]

For each trainset, Bombardier manufactured the three middle carriages at its Crespin site, while the end cars were assembled by Alstom at its Valenciennes Petite-Forêt location.[1] In addition, six further Alstom manufacturing sites across France were involved in the production programme. Of these, Alstom’s Ornans site was responsible for producing the traction motors, the Le Creusot factory supplied the bogies, while Tarbes produced traction chain equipment, the Petit Quevilly site manufactured the main transformer, and both the Saint-Ouen and Villeurbanne sites were involved in supplying the onboard passenger information and electronic control systems.[1]

The construction of each carriage involves more than 30 tonnes of steel and 30 km of cabling, along with various insulating and composite materials, and electronic equipment. Various elements of the MI 09's assembly, such as the installation of secondary doors, lightings and miscellaneous electronics, a fireproof and soundproof cabin partitions, and other interior fittings were performed by Barat Group.[1]

References

1. "MI09 Double-Decker Train." railway-technology.com, Retrieved: 31 May 2018.
2. "Paris announces MI09 double-deck EMU order." Railway Gazette, 9 April 2018.
3. "€870m upgrade to increase RER capacity and reliability." Railway Gazette, 12 June 2012.
4. "STIF orders more double-deck EMUs." Railway Gazette, 12 February 2015.
5. "Alstom unveils Paris RER Line A double-deck train." Railway Gazette, 8 February 2011.
6. Barrow, Keith. "MI09 trains enter service on Paris RER." Rail Journal, 5 December 2011.
7. "Alstom and Bombardier deliver the 100th MI09 trainset to STIF and RATP." Alstom, July 2015.