Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon Railway RABe 525 “NINA”
Switzerland 1998 41 produced
Between 1998 and 1995, the BLS got 36 lightweight three-car electric multiple units which were designated RABe 525. They got the name “NINA”, what stands for “Niederflur-Nahverkehrszug” (low floor commuter train) since most of the length of the train has a low floor thanks to space-saving Jakobs bogies.
They were built by Vevey Technologies and Talbot, which both later came to Bombardier. The electric part came from Holec, what later became Alstom/Traxis. In 2007, 13 sets got an additional car to make them four-car trains. There were also two other private railways which ordered five sets in total. The successor of the RABe 525 is the RABe 535, what stands out with large panoramic windows.
Technical data
General
| Property | three-car | four-car |
|---|---|---|
| Built | 1998-2005 | 2007 |
| Manufacturers | Vevey Technologies, Bombardier, Alstom | |
| Wheel arrangement | B-2-2-B | B-2-2-2-B |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (Standard gauge) | |
Dimensions and weights
| Property | three-car | four-car |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 47.74 m | 61.90 m |
| Empty mass | 58 t | 78 t |
Power
| Property | three-car | four-car |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | electric - AC | |
| Continuous power | 1,000 kW (1,360 PS) | |
| Top speed | 140 km/h | |
| Starting effort | 105.0 kN | |
