BLS RABe 525

RABe 525
RABe 525
	BLS No. 029 at Hüswil in 2019
Stock type	Electric multiple unit
In service	1998–present
Manufacturer	Vevey Technologies (1998–2001); Bombardier (from 2001); Alstom/Traxis (formely Holec)
Refurbished	2015-2019
Number built	37
Number in service	36
Number scrapped	1
Fleet numbers	001–014, 028–030, 032–037 (3 car units); 015-027 (4 car units);
Capacity	134 seated + 70 standees (3 car unit); 179 seated + 85 standees (4 car unit);
Operators	BLS AG
Specifications
Train length	47.7 m (156 ft) (3 car unit); 61.9 m (203 ft) (4 car unit);
Width	3,030 mm (9.94 ft)
Height	4,315 mm (14.157 ft)
Articulated sections	3 or 4
Wheel diameter	powered: 750/680 mm; non-powered: 630/560 mm
Wheelbase	powered: 2500 mm; non-powered: 2700 mm
Maximum speed	140 km/h (87 mph)
Weight	79 t (3 car unit); 96 t (4 car unit);
Traction system	3-phase (IGBT-VVVF)
Traction motors	4-pole asynchronous 3-phase motor
Power output	4× 256 kW
Tractive effort	105 kN
Gear ratio	1 : 4,376
Acceleration	1,2 m/s2
Deceleration	1,3 - 1,9 m/s2
Electric system(s)	15 kV 16.7 Hz AC
UIC classification	Bo'2'2'Bo' / Bo'2'2'2'Bo'
Minimum turning radius	100 m
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Notes/references

The BLS RABe 525, also known as NINA or Nina, is a Swiss electric multiple unit built by Bombardier Transportation with electrical equipment by Alstom. The train is principally used by the BLS AG on Bern S-Bahn services, four units (525 038-041) belong to RegionAlps. An updated version exists as the BLS RABe 535, also known as Lötschberger, also exists with a revised front end and an interior intended for longer distance services.

A BLS RABe 525 Nina train in Langnau im Emmental railway station

Design

The articulated trainset was designed to be built with from two to six sections and with two to six motorized axles. The 3 car units have a length of 47.7 metres (156 ft 6 in), they are 3,030 millimetres (9 ft 11 in) wide and 4,315 millimetres (14 ft 1.9 in) tall.^[1] It has 20 first class seats and 114 second class seats as well as 70 standing places. The 4 car units have a length of 61.9 metres (203 ft 1 in), they are 3,030 millimetres (9 ft 11 in) wide and 4,315 millimetres (14 ft 1.9 in) tall. It has 20 first class seats and 159 second class seats as well as 85 standing places. The design speed is 140 km/h (87 mph). The RABe 525 and 535 are technically equal in terms of traction equipment.^[2]

Operation

The RABe 525 is used on the following routes:

S36 Lyss–Büren an der Aare
S42 Hasle-Rüegsau–Konolfingen–Thun
S43 Konolfingen–Thun
S44/S45 Thun–Belp–Bern–Burgdorf–Ramsei-Sumiswald-Grünen
S46 Solothurn–Burgdorf–Ostermundigen
S5 Bern–Kerzers–Neuchâtel + Murten/Morat–Payerne
S6/S7 Lucerne–Wolhusen–Huttwil–Langenthal
S77 Lucerne–Wolhusen–Willisau
RE2 Domodossola–Brig–Visp

Refit program

Between 2015 and 2019, BLS modernised its entire Nina fleet. The 1st class is no longer be in the high-floor compartment, but has been moved to the low-floor area. The lighting has also been adapted so that all compartments are well lit. The toilets were also be slightly adapted. A standing area was created in 2nd class and the colour scheme inside and outside the vehicles was standardised so that all trains have the same design.^[4] The refit was completed in June 2019.^[5]

Named units

BLS initially named the NINA after bodies of water. Later, "Wankdorf" was added as a stop and "Konolfingen" was the first place with a coat of arms. After the refit, two more NINAs were baptised with the coats of arms of towns.

Only the baptised vehicles are listed:

Unit	Name	Image
525 001	La Thielle/Zihl ^[1]
525 002	Schwarzwasser ^[1]
525 003	Emme ^[1]
525 004	La Broye ^[1]
525 005	Aare ^[1]
525 005	Menznau ^[2]
525 006	Gürbe ^[1]
525 006	Willisau ^[2]
525 007	Gäbelbach ^[1]
525 007	Huttwil ^[2]
525 008	La Sarine/Saane ^[1]
525 009	Schwarzsee ^[1]
525 010	Gerzensee ^[1]
525 010	LINA

Unit	Name	Image
525 011	Müntschemier ^[2]
525 012	Mühleberg ^[2]
525 013	Konolfingen ^[1] ^[2]
525 014	Wohlensee ^[1]
525 017	Grabebach ^[1]
525 018	Thunersee ^[1]
525 020	Scherlibach ^[1]
525 022	Worble ^[1]
525 026	Chräbsbach ^[1]
525 027	Glütschbach ^[1]
525 028	La Bibera/Bibere ^[1]
525 033	Wankdorf ^[1] ^[3]

¹ Baptism name removed after modernisation

² Municipal coat of arms instead of rivers

³ Station instead of river

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Stöckli, Josef; Vorburger, Hans (2003). "Die Niederflur-Nahverkehrs-Pendelzüge RABe 252 „NINA" der BLS, TMR und TRN". Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue (in German). No. 2. pp. 68–79. ISSN 1022-7113.
^ ^a ^b Gerber, Peter (2006). "Die BLS bestellt 13 Niederflur-Triebzüge RABe 525 für den Regio-Express Lötschberg". Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue (in German) (11). Minirex AG: 541–544. ISSN 1022-7113.
^ BLS (10 January 2023). "Charter trains: RABe 525 – low-floor regional train "NINA"". BLS. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
^ "Refit for the "NINA" trains completed". BLS.ch. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
^ "Alle BLS NINA-Züge modernisiert". Bahnonline.ch (in German). 2019-06-26. Retrieved 1 July 2024.

Bibliography

Josef Stöckli, Hans Vorburger: Die Niederflur-Nahverkehrs-Pendelzüge RABe 525 „NINA“ der BLS, TMR und TRN. In: Eisenbahn-Revue International, Heft 2/2003, ISSN 1421-2811, S. 68–79.