BLS RABe 528
Silver train with green accents
BLS No. 105 at Burgdorf in 2022
Purple-upholstered seats
Second class seating area
In service2021–present
ManufacturerStadler Rail
Number built58
Fleet numbers
  • 101–103 (RegioExpress)
  • 201–228 (S-Bahn)
Capacity275 seated + 200 standees
OperatorsBLS AG
Specifications
Train length104,900 mm (344.2 ft)
Width2,880 mm (9.45 ft)
Height4,260 mm (13.98 ft)
Articulated sections6
Maximum speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Electric system(s)15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
UIC classificationBo’Bo’2’2'2’Bo’Bo’
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Notes/references
[1]

The BLS RABe 528, also known as MIKA,[lower-alpha 1] is a passenger articulated trainset manufactured by Stadler Rail for BLS AG. It is a derivative of the Stadler FLIRT and began entering service in 2021.

History

BLS AG ordered 58 trainsets from Stadler Rail in 2017 at a cost of CHF 650 million. BLS planned to use the trains on Bern S-Bahn services and on longer RegioExpress services.[3] The RABe 528 will replace locomotive-hauled Einheitswagen III coaches and the RBDe 565 and RBDe 565 multiple units.[4] The first trains entered service on 10 May 2021 on the InterRegio 66 between Bern and Neuchâtel.[5]

Design

Each formation is composed of six cars, with a maximum seating capacity of 275. They can accommodate another 200 standees. Altogether the formation is 104,900 mm (344 ft 1+15⁄16 in) long. Cars are 2,880 mm (9 ft 5+3⁄8 in) wide and 4,260 mm (13 ft 11+11⁄16 in) tall. The design speed is 160 km/h (99 mph). There are different internal layouts for longer-distance trains compared to S-Bahn trains but they are mechanically identical.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ German: moderner, innovativer, kompakter Allroundzug, lit. 'modern, innovative, compact all-round train'[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "New BLS FLIRT Unveiled". Railvolution. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ↑ BLS (29 November 2022). "Charterzüge: RABe 528 «MIKA» - Charter & Flotte". BLS (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Mega-Deal der Privatbahn - BLS kauft Stadler-Züge für 650 Millionen". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (in German). 2 May 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. ↑ BLS (3 August 2016). "Rollmaterialbeschaffung - Neue Züge für sorgloses Reisen - BLS AG". BLS (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  5. ↑ BLS (12 August 2016). "BLS nimmt erste MIKA-Züge in Betrieb – 04.05.2021 – BLS AG". BLS (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
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