Hamburg U-Bahn Type DT3

The Type DT3 is a three-car electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Hamburger Hochbahn AG on the Hamburg U-Bahn.They were first introduced in 1968 to replace the 1911 to 1929-built Type T cars and to speed up the journey times on line U1.

HHA-Baureihe DT3
A DT3-LZB train at Landungsbrücken station in April 2009
In service	1968–Present
Manufacturer	LHB, BBC, Kiepe
Constructed	1966 (prototype) 1968–1971
Entered service	1968
Refurbished	1994–2001, 2016
Scrapped	1999–2003, 2017
Number built	128 units
Number in service	68 units
Number preserved	1 unit
Number scrapped	59 units
Fleet numbers	originally: 9603–9983 later: 801–926, 931, 932
Capacity	364 (92 seated) (DT3)[1] 90 seated (DT3-LZB)
Operator(s)	Hamburger Hochbahn AG
Depot(s)	Farmsen, Barmbek
Specifications
Train length	39.52 m (129 ft 8 in)[1]
Width	2.48 m (8 ft 2 in)[1]
Height	3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)[1]
Doors	2 pairs per side (per car)
Maximum speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Weight	47.1 t (46.4 long tons; 51.9 short tons)[1]
Power output	640 kW (860 hp)[1]
Acceleration	1.2 m/s²[1]
Deceleration	1.2 m/s² (emergency)[2]
Electric system(s)	750 V DC third rail
Current collection method	Contact shoe
UIC classification	Bo'Bo'Bo'Bo'
Braking system(s)	Dynamic main brakes, Westinghouse air brakes
Safety system(s)	Sifa LZB (sets 921–926)
Coupling system	Scharfenberg
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)

Variants

• DT3: unrefurbished sets, all withdrawn[3]
• DT3-LZB: sets 921 to 926 fitted with Linienzugbeeinflussung (LZB) in 1980/1981[3]
• DT3-E: trains refurbished from 1995 to 2000 with new polyester cabs[3]
• DT3-N: ten refurbished sets used as spare cars[4]

• 
  DT3-E with new polyester cab

Interior

The trains have a 2+1 seating arrangement. Refurbished trains are equipped with a passenger information system since 2000.[3]

• 
  Interior of a refurbished DT3-E train

Technical specifications

The trains are built to an articulated design, and are formed as three-car sets. The end cars are based on the Type DT2, with a 10.72 m (35 ft 2 in) long intermediate car inbetween.[3] They are equipped with high voltage cam switches, quill drive, and a microprocessor-controlled wheel slide protection system.[3]

• 
  Driver's cab of a DT3
• 
  Side shot of a DT3 at Hauptbahnhof Nord station

DT3-LZB

Six sets were fitted with Linienzugbeeinflussung (LZB) in 1980 and 1981 and were used for driverless operation trials on the line to Großhansdorf station. The automatic operation was observed by a conductor permanently sitting in the cab, they also had to dispatch the train in stations. The experimental operation ended in 1985, since then the units were in normal operation.[3] During the refurbishment of many DT3 units in the 1990s, the DT3-LZB only received the interior and car body refurbishment and did not get their front replaced.[3]

History

The trains were built between 1968 and 1971.[3] 18 sets were scrapped in 2017.[5]

Refurbishment

Many of the units were rebuilt between 1995 and 2000 and received a newly designed polyester front, a new interior design, and windows between the cars and between the driver's cab and passenger compartment.[3] The rebuiling became necessary due to structural issues with rust on load-bearing parts of the car bodies.[3] The rebuilt units are designated as DT3-E.[3] A total of 62 units were refurbished as of August 2005,[3] the rest of the units were replaced by new DT4 units, retired and scrapped between 1996 and 2003.

In June 2015, the operator Hamburger Hochbahn announced another refurbishment for ten DT3-E units to extend their lifespan for ten more years.[6] This refurbishment will include the replacement of the old control equipment, as well as the renewal of the interior and car bodies.[7] The improvement is going to make the refurbished cars incompatible to the other DT3-E, thus they will be designated as "DT3-N" to distinguish them from non-refurbished cars.

References

1. Schleife W.; et al. (1992). Metros der Welt [Metros of the world] (in German) (2nd ed.). Berlin: transpress Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 142. ISBN 3-344-70715-9.
2. Goldsack, Paul, ed. (1981). Jane's World Railways 1981-82 (23rd ed.). Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. p. 435. ISBN 0 7106 0726 1.
3. Pabst, Martin (2006). S-Bahn- und U-Bahn-Fahrzeuge in Deutschland [S-Bahn and U-Bahn vehicles in Germany] (in German) (2nd ed.). GeraMond. pp. 58–61. ISBN 3-7654-7366-9.
4. Gängrich, Pia (11 May 2017). "Wieso wir den DT3 verschrotten… und trotzdem weiterhin im Einsatz haben" [Why we scrap the DT3… and still keep them in service]. Hochbahn-Blog (in German). Hamburger Hochbahn AG. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
5. "Hochbahn mustert den DT3 aus – Verschrottung der Züge in Lübeck" [Hochbahn withdraws DT3 - Scrapping of the trains in Lübeck]. shz.de (in German). Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag. 5 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
6. Hinkelmann, Christian (14 July 2016). "Hamburgs älteste U-Bahnen werden modernisiert" [Hamburga oldest U-Bahn trains get refurbished] (in German). Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
7. "Hamburg metro refurbishment contract". railwaygazette.com. DVV Media International. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

External links

• Hochbahn fleet information (in German)