RegioSwinger

RegioSwinger
A RegioSwinger in use as Allgäu-Franken-Express in Treuchtlingen
A Croatian RegioSwinger in Rijeka, Croatia
Manufacturer	Adtranz, Hennigsdorf factory Bombardier Transportation
Constructed	1998-Present
Number built	192(8 in HŽ,184 in DB)
Specifications
Train length	51,750 mm (169 ft 9 in)
Maximum speed	160 km/h (99 mph)
Weight	116 t (114 long tons; 128 short tons)
Prime mover(s)	Diesel
Transmission	Hydraulic
UIC classification	2'B'+B'2'

The RegioSwinger is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train used for fast regional traffic on unelectrified lines.

Development and service

The RegioSwinger was first manufactured by Adtranz in Hennigsdorf, before it became part of Bombardier Transportation in 2001. The train is in use in Germany with Deutsche Bahn as class 612 and was introduced to Croatia with Croatian Railways as HŽ 7123 or InterCity Nagibni (ICN) in 2004.^[1] The public shortened that name, so it caught the nickname nagibni (swinger) in Croatia, and became known also by that short name, due to commercials.

Class 612's predecessor was class 611, which due to heavy problems with the tilting system and the chassis was largely considered a failure. Even though class 612 sticks to the principle of an electric tilting system (Neicontrol-E), it was newly engineered from the beginning.

The first units were delivered in 1998 and worked reliably until 2004, when cracks were detected in a number of wheel sets. For safety reasons, the tilting system was disabled and subsequently the maximum speed on tilting lines was reduced, causing a massive disorder in the schedules. As before with class 611, wheels and axles had to be replaced. Starting in 2005, class 612 was equipped with hardened molybdenum axles. Today class 612 is back to tilting operation and forms the backbone of DB's fast regional service on un-electrified lines.

After ICE TD class 605 was grounded due to a fracture of an axle in one unit, it was replaced by class 612 on the Dresden-Munich line 2003, as replacement by anything other than a tilting DMU would have meant an extension of travel time. Even though class 612 was not constructed for ICE-type travelling comfort, 16 units were repainted in the ICE paint scheme and renumbered as class 612.4. Ironically, only one year later the same problem forced DB to disable the tilting system on the replacement also.

Technical information

Class 612 units comprise two motorised coaches, each with a 560 kW (751 hp) Cummins engine (type QSK-19). The power is transferred hydraulically. Up to four units can be connected by the Scharfenberg coupler, with the on-board computers automatically choosing the train configuration.

Besides pneumatic brakes and a hydraulic braking system, class 612 is also equipped with an electro-magnetic brake. The maximum tilt is 8°.

Accidents

Main article: 2009 Rudine train derailment

On July 24, 2009, a train derailed near Rudine, Croatia, with 119 passengers aboard, killing 6 and injuring 55, on the Zagreb-Split line.^[2] According to Croatian news reports, the cause of the derailment was slippery fire retardant that was just sprayed on a steep downhill section of the track, a normal practice in extreme summer heat but executed improperly using a new chemical. With brakes ineffective, the train gained a speed higher than the track configuration could handle and derailed^[3] .^[4]^[5]

Croatian news media report that this section of the track was reconstructed in 2005 and that the particular train passed inspection just two days prior to the accident, but the accident brought back the debate on whether these trains are appropriate for local conditions. Investigation continues, with questionable application of fire retardant (recently changed to "aqueous based resin liquid penetrate" TG-300^[6] from a new supplier) emerging as the most likely cause of this accident.

Gallery

The Croatian version of the RegioSwinger: InterCityNagibni.
A German RegioSwinger in a tilting operation.
Bogies

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HŽ Class 7123.

Comfort

Passengers have criticised that the seats in class 612 are too hard, especially for longer distances.
Class 612 in Germany has been nicknamed Wackel-Dackel (wobbling Dachshund).
The tilting effect causes motion sickness in some people.

References

Classes of German DMUs

BR number	601 602 605 608 610 611 612 612 alt 613 613 alt 614 618 624 627 628 629 633 634 636 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 648 650 660 670 672 675 690 691 692 699 771 772 795 796 797 798

Pre-1968 classes	VT 04.0 VT 04.1 VT 04.5 VT 06 VT 07.5 VT 08.5 VT 10.5 VT 11.5 VT 12.5 VT 23.5 VT 24 VT 25.5 VT 30 VT 32 VT 33 VT 36.5 VT 38 VT 45.5 VT 46.5 VT 50 VT 51 VT 60.5 VT 62 VT 63 VT 66 VT 69 VT 70 VT 72 VT 75 VT 78 VT 79 VT 86 VT 88 VT 89 VT 90.5 VT 92.5 VT 95 VT 97 VT 98

Old DRG numbers	VT 7 VT 10 VT 20 VT 133 VT 135 VT 137 SVT 137 VT 814 VT 815 SVT 877

DR in the GDR	171 172 173 175 181 183 184 185 186 187 188 VT 2.09 VT 4.12 VT 12.14 VT 18.16

Special trains	Flying Hamburger ICE TD Integral TEE

Diesel railbuses	Esslingen railbus MAN railbus Uerdingen railbus Wismar railbus RegioSprinter

Rolling stock of the Croatian Railways

Diesel locomotives	HŽ 2132 HŽ 2041 HŽ 2042 HŽ 2043 HŽ 2044 HŽ 2062 HŽ 2063

Electric locomotives	HŽ 1061 HŽ 1141 HŽ 1142

DMUs	HŽ 7121 HŽ 7122 HŽ 7123

EMUs	HŽ 6011 HŽ 6111 HŽ 6112

Withdrawn or not active	HŽ 1081 HŽ 1161 HŽ 2061 HŽ 2131 HŽ 2133 HŽ 2141 HŽ 7021 HŽ 7221 ES 64 F4 (rented)

Curiose	JŽ 361

Rolling stock of Croatia (wikimedia commons images) see also predecessor Yugoslav Railways (JŽ), Rolling stock of the Yugoslav Railways

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.