Welcome
to the Flirt EMUs Reference Page! Fast Ligh Innovative Regional Transit
EMUs are the bestseller products for the Stadler Rail AG.
The
Company
Stadler Rail AG has grown agressively from the humble but very
innovative Swiss component company to a multinational rail manufacturer
providing railroad rolling stock and their services to its customers.
According to the company there were 8 manufacturing and service
operations centers at the beginning of the year 2009: Bussnang,
Altenrhein, Winterthur (Switzerland), Berlin (Germany), Siedlce
(Poland), Pusztaszabolcs, Szolnok (Hungary) and Algiers (Algeria).
While the beginings saw many products from the drawing board of
engineer rather than a designer, the real success started with
combining these two in Flirt design. The
Flirt EMU
Flirt (Fast Light Innovative regional Transit) is a modular based EMU
design always tailored to the customers specific needs. Usually the
ends of the train and its articulated structure remain the same, as
well as the walk through train interior, while the side doors, windows
and interior accommodations for passengers vary. In spite of this the
modularity, it is easy to imagine many solutions being possible to be
transferred from one market of the operators to another and reseller
markets will probably appear later as well for such a well designed
vehicle. 
Customers for
the Flirt design worlwide include the following operators and train
owners (not a complete listing): - Angel Trains Eurobahn, Germany: 25
Flirt EMUs, 4 car configuration, 15 KV AC 16,7 Hz electric system, 1435
mm gauge
- Deutsche Bahn AG, Germany: 5 EMUs, 5
car, 15kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Masovia Region, Poland: 10 EMUs,
4car, 3000V, 1435 mm
- Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy,
Finland: 32 EMUs, 4 car, 25kV 50Hz, 1524 mm
- SBB/CFF,
Germany / Switzerland / Italy :
- S-Bahn Basel (Switzerland): 20 EMUs, 4 car, 15 kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Stadtbahn Zug
(Switzerland): 12 EMUs, 4 car, 15kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Wiesental
(Germany / Switzerland): 10 EMUs, 4 car, 15 kV 16,7 Hz, 1435 mm
- Silesia Region,
Poland: 4 EMUs, 4 car, 3000V DC, 1435 mm
- Sistemi Teritoriali (ST), Italy: 2
EMUs, 4 car, 3000V DC, 1435 mm
- SNTF, Algeria:
64 EMUs, 4 car, 25 kV 50 Hz, 1435 mm
- List to be continued soon.
Shiny
new paint covers the brand new Finnish Flirt unit number 01 of the
Junakalusto
at the end of the year 2008. Here the unit is seen
inside the service building in Helsinki providing a shelter from the
harsh Finnish winter weather.
Flirt
Technical Information
There are currently around
550 Flirt EMUs either in use or in orders from the manufacturer. This
makes the type one of the most successfull in Europe.
Interestingly the type has been a great success even among the
smaller train owners / operators providing cahnce for new types
organizating the rail traffic outside the national railroad
companies.
Type: Flirt (Fast Light
Innovative Regional Transit), modular EMU
Usage: Regional transit, some intercity transit on shorter
distances
Builder: Stadler Rail AG
Production
dates: 2002 - current
Numbers
built or ordered: over 550
Gauge: almost 100% on normal gauge 1435 mm, Finnish
version 1524 mm (5 ft) gauge
Users: Tens of train owners /
operators in Europe and Africa.
Possibly
seen in: Europe and North Africa
Energy Source: 3000V, 3000V
DC/15 kV, 15 kV, 15kV/25kV or 25 kV overhead electricity
Power output for typical 4 unit
EMU: 2000 kW continuous
Traction motors:
Tractive Effort (4 cars): 200
kN
Wheel arrangement: Bo'2'2'2'Bo'
Maximum operational speed:
typically 160 km/h, in Poland 120 km/h
Length (4 cars typical): 74
meters
Heigth (some variations exist): 4135 mm
Width: 2880 mm, Finnish variant
3200 mm
Weight:
120 metric tons
Axle weight max:
tons 
Here
the Flirt class Sm5 number 01 is seen on the test drive in Kerava early
2009. The
attractive white-gray-blue-green livery is a welcome alternative to the
VR-Yhtymas all red and white newer paint schemes. The VR-Yhtyma huge
Sm4 by Bombardier / Fiat gives a good estimate on the size of the
new Flirt train.
This
picture was taken on PKJs Sm5 test run in Tikkurila, near Helsinki
Finland. On the picture
aboce the Flirt train is preparing to leave nort towards Kerava. Harsh
Finnish winter weather provides a great test for any new train unit! If
operation is possible in winter conditions, other weather types should
not provide any obstacles for operations.
More pictures and information will follow later!
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Created for 4rail.net by John McKey. Pictures by Ilkka Siissalo,
Stanislav Voronin and
Photo Ranger.
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