BLS RABe 525 explained

Imagealt:Silver train with green accents
Service:1998–present
Manufacturer:Vevey Technologies (1998–2001)
Bombardier (from 2001)
Alstom/Traxis (formely Holec)
Refurbishment:2015-2019
Numberbuilt:37
Numberservice:36
Numberscrapped:1
Operator:BLS AG
Width:3030mm
Height:4315mm
Art-Sections:3 or 4
Maxspeed:140kph
Poweroutput:1'000 kW
Uicclass:Bo'2'2'Bo' / Bo'2'2'2'Bo'
Notes:[1]

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.

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 47.7m (156.5feet), they are 3030mm wide and 4315mm tall. It has 20 first class seats and 114 second class seats aswell as 70 standing places. The 4 car units have a length of 61.9m (203.1feet), they are 3030mm wide and 4315mm tall. It has 20 first class seats and 159 second class seats aswell as 85 standing places.The design speed is 140kph.

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:

UnitNameImage
525 001 La Thielle/Zihl 
525 002 Schwarzwasser 
525 003 Emme 
525 004 La Broye 
525 005 Aare 
Menznau 
525 006 Gürbe 
Willisau 
525 007 Gäbelbach 
Huttwil 
525 008 La Sarine/Saane 
525 009 Schwarzsee 
525 010 Gerzensee 
LINA
525 011 Müntschemier 
525 012 Mühleberg 
525 013 Konolfingen  
525 014 Wohlensee 
525 017 Grabebach 
525 018 Thunersee 
525 020 Scherlibach 
525 022 Worble 
525 026 Chräbsbach 
525 027 Glütschbach 
525 028 La Bibera/Bibere 
525 033 Wankdorf  

Baptism name removed after modernisation

Municipal coat of arms instead of rivers

Station instead of river

Operation

The RABe 525 is used on the following routes:

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.[2] The refit was completed in June 2019.[3]

Bibliography

External links


Notes and References

  1. Web site: BLS . Charter trains: RABe 525 – low-floor regional train “NINA” . 30 June 2024 . BLS . en.
  2. Web site: Refit for the “NINA” trains completed . BLS.ch . 1 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Alle BLS NINA-Züge modernisiert . de . Bahnonline.ch . 2019-06-26 . 1 July 2024.