Belgian Railways Class 96 Explained

SNCB AM96 / NMBS MS96
Interiorimage:MS96_Interior_second_class.JPG
Interiorcaption:Second class interior
Numberbuilt:120
Fleetnumbers:441 - 490 (dual-voltage),
501 - 570 (DC-only)
Manufacturer:Bombardier Transportation
Factory:Bruges, Belgium[1]
Yearconstruction:1996
Service:1996–present
Operator:NMBS/SNCB
Carlength:26400mm
Width:2860mm
Formation:Bx + B + ADx
Uicclass:Bo'Bo' + 2'2' + 2'2'
Traction:441–490: 3 kV DC; 25 kV AC
501–570: 3 kV DC
Poweroutput:1400hp
Maxspeed:160km/h
Capacity:168 second class, 45 first class, 213 total
Safety:Memor, TBL 1+, KVB, ETCS
Coupling:Scharfenberg

The class 96 (MS96 in Dutch, AM96 in French) is an electric multiple unit constructed in 1996[2] for the National Railway Company of Belgium.

They incorporate features from the DSB IC3da trainsets in order to enable passage from one set coach to another. When two or more units are coupled together in a single train, the entire front door folds away to give a wide passage, and the rubber diaphragms at the ends form a flush aerodynamic seal. The trainsets have air conditioning that can be controlled per coach, which makes them suitable for long distances.[3]

As of summer 2022, these trainsets are used almost exclusively on IC connections:

The MS96 also runs a limited number of P trains, L trains and S trains.

Versions:

There are three different variants of MS96, which can run together in train connection :

(The "classic" Belgian 3kV rail network includes all Belgian electric lines that do not cross a border with the exception of the high-speed lines and lines 42 Rivage – Gouvy, 165 Libramont – Bertrix – Athus, 166 Dinant – Bertrix and 167 Arlon – Athus – Rodange (L), equipped with 25 kV alternating current.)

The latter two types are adaptable to 25 kV~, but since this is not necessary for most railway lines in Belgium, this investment has not yet been made. In addition, all types can run on the border section of the Liège - Maastricht route, where the Dutch overhead line voltage of 1.5 kV = 1.5 kV is used for a few kilometers. Because these trains are designed for 3 kV=, they can only run at a quarter of the capacity under the Dutch overhead lines. But since the Belgian overhead line on this route reaches Eijsden station, and there are no slopes parallel to the Maas, that is not a problem.

Accidents and incidents

See main article: Hermalle-sous-Huy train collision.

See main article: Morlanwelz train collision and runaway.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: News on the SNCB/NMBS. Belgian Railways Unofficial website. David. De Neef.
  2. Web site: Electric Multiple AM96 – Belgium. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616132558/http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/projects/project.am-96-belgium.html. 16 June 2017. 9 January 2015.
  3. https://www.funet.fi/index/pics/railways/Belgium/electric/index.html
  4. Web site: Grave accident de trains à Saint-Georges: 3 morts, 9 blessés et " une scène abominable " . Serious train accident in Saint-Georges: 3 dead, 9 wounded and "an abominable scene" . French . L'Avenir . 6 June 2016.
  5. Web site: Rapport intermédiaire d'Enquête de Sécurité. Collision par rattrapage d'un train de marchandises par un train de voyageurs survenue à Hermalle-sous-Huy le 5 juin 2016 . Interim Safety Investigation Report. Rear-end collision between a freight tran and a passenger train at Hermalle-sous-Huy on 5 June 2016 . French . RAIIU Belgium . 29 November 2017.
  6. Web site: Three dead and 40 injured after train crashes into back of freight train . Richard . Hartley-Parkinson . Associated Newspapers Ltd . Metro . 6 June 2016.