Stadler GTW
| Stadler GTW | |
|---|---|
 Stadler GTW Railcar, seen near Austin, Texas |
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| Manufacturer | Stadler Rail AG |
| Number built | more than 464 |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 115 – 140 km/h |
| Weight | 37–62 t (GTW 2/6); 72.4 t (GTW 2/8) |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge |
The Stadler GTW, sold by Stadler Rail of Switzerland, is an articulated railcar for local transport. GTW stands for Gelenktriebwagen (articulated railcar).
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[edit] Description
Stadler GTW is family of vehicles which differ externally, in the various designs of the head of the vehicle (from angular to streamlined), and also in the different designs and power units that drive them. They also come in different gauges and as rack railway vehicles. The basic version is the GTW 2/6, a railcar which conforms to UIC standards. "2/6" means "two of six axles are powered". The GTW 2/6 is used for example by Deutsche Bahn as Baureihe 646 (Series 646) and by Swiss railways as RABe 526.
The basic concept is rather unconventional: the car is driven by a central "power module", also known as a "powerpack" or a "drive container", powered on both axles. Two light end modules, each with a bogie, rest on the power module, which produces useful traction weight on the driving axles. The end modules also use the space very effectively, although the railcar is divided into two halves by the power module. Most units have a path through the drive container for passenger access. The end modules can be delivered with standard pulling devices or buffer gears, or with central buffer couplings. They are built with a low-floor design except above the bogies and at the supported ends (more than 65% of the railcar is low-floor). All of the usual comforts to be expected in a modern local network railcar are provided, such as air conditioning, a multi-purpose room, vacuum toilets (in a washroom suitable for the disabled) and a passenger information system. The GTWs can be diesel or electric-powered (via overhead wires or third rail). 551 units have been sold to date and are in use in Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany.
[edit] Propulsion
There are diesel propulsion modules with 550 kW (since 2003) with 2x375 = 750 kW power available, and electric propulsion modules with 600 kW to 1,100 kW. All drive modules work with IGBT pulse inverters. The converter plant stems from ABB and Turgi manufactured at the site.
By inserting a middle car (also with only one bogie) on one side of the propulsion module, the GTW 2/6 is expanded to GTW 2/8. Instead of the middle car, another drive module can also be inserted. Between the two modules are then either a trailer passenger car (GTW 4/8) or two medium cars and partitions (GTW 4/12). For operational flexibility up to four GTWs of the same pattern can be operated as a multiple unit.
[edit] Applications
[edit] USA
[edit] New Jersey
- Southern New Jersey Light Rail, (SNJLR)
- New Jersey Transit uses 20 GTW diesel light rail vehicles on the 34 mile (55 km) River Line service between Trenton and Camden. The diesel LRV offers a tighter turning radius than typical main line light rail vehicles (i.e. Siemens Desiro, Bombardier Talent, etc.) and thus is capable of street running.
[edit] Texas
[edit] Central Texas
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) in Austin, Texas, uses six Diesel rail vehicles of the type GTW 2/6 on the new 32 mile (51.5 km) line from Leander to Downtown Austin.
[edit] Denton County
The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), announced on May 20, 2009, that it will purchase 11 GTW 2/6 articulated diesel multiple units (DMUs) for DCTA’s 21-mile (34 km) corridor from Denton to Carrollton. This line connects with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green Line which extends from the Pleasant Grove neighborhood in southeast Dallas to northern Carrollton. The contract includes an option for up to 25 additional GTWs.[1]
[edit] France
The Panoramique des Dômes in France will use 4 GTW 2/6 when it opens in 2012.[2]
[edit] Switzerland
The SBB-CFF-FFS (Swiss Railways) use the GTW 2/6 (and soon GTW 2/8) in its electric version branded Thurbo for various routes out of Zürich.
[edit] Netherlands
The multinational transport company Arriva use them on their Spurt-branded passenger rail routes. Veolia Transport used them as Velios. At the end of 2012 Breng will also use these trains.
[edit] Models
[edit] HO scale (1:87)
In 2011, German model manufacturer Piko introduced a model of the GTW 2/6 in both Diesel and Electric versions in a wide range of liveries including DB-AG Regio red, SBB-CFF-FFS (Swiss Railways) Thurbo and Arriva's Spurt livery. These models are in their "Expert" range and retail for around 200 Euro - accessories available include DCC decoders, interior lighting kits and sound kits for both Diesel and Electric variants. The model themselves can be obtained in DC/DCC 2-rail and AC 3-rail Märklin compatible versions.
[edit] References
- ^ www.stadlerrail News: More GTWs for Texas, Retrieved on 29 January 2012
- ^ Conseil Général du Puy de Dôme, Panoramique des Dômes
[edit] External links
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