Autorail à Grande Capacité
Encyclopedia
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
) is a category of multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s built by the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
train manufacturer Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
at Crespin
Crespin, Nord
-References:*...
for the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rail operator SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
. The AGC will also be produced by Remarul 16 Februarie
Remarul 16 Februarie
Remarul 16 Februarie Locomotive Works is a company dealing with construction and repair of railway rolling stock. They are based in Cluj Napoca in Romania. In addition to repair services, the company manufactures parts for rolling stock, pistons, traction hooks, springs for hydraulic diesel...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
at Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
for several east european
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
rail operators.
The series consists of 3 models:
- X 76500: diesel variant, also designated XGC
- Z 27500: electric variant capable of running on both 1.5 kVVoltThe volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DCDirect currentDirect current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
and 25 kV25 kV ACThe 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
50 HzHertzThe hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
ACAlternating currentIn alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
, also designated ZGC - B 81500SNCF Class B 81500The B 81500 is a class of hybrid railway multiple units built by Bombardier for SNCF and used on the TER network. It is capable of operating on diesel power as well as a 1.5 kV DC electricity supply...
: dual-mode variant, capable of running on both diesel (by means of a diesel-electric engine) and 1.5 kV DC (by means of a pantographPantograph (rail)A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
), also designated BGC - B 82500SNCF Class B 82500The B 82500 is a class of hybrid multi-system electro-diesel multiple units built by Bombardier for SNCF. It is capable of operating on diesel power, and under and electrification. Unlike other models in the AGC lineup, this class is available only as 4-car sets, not 3-car ones...
: dual-mode variant, capable of running on both diesel (by means of a diesel-electric motor) and 1.5 kV DC/25 kV AC (by means of a pantograph), also designated BGC; these trains are identical to the B 81500-series except for their capability of operating on AC power.
The modularity of these trains permits each railroad (or region) to choose the number of units – currently 3 or 4 – that make up the train, as well as the interior layout of the cars (e.g. lounge car
Lounge car
A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
, first class, etc.). Trains can also be made up of mixed units, i.e. a train can be made up from both BGC and ZGC units. Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
and Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
regions have also ordered sets that consist of both diesel and electric units (i.e XGC and ZGC). A two-unit variant has never been ordered; the B 82500 is only available in a four-unit version.
The first car delivered was a B 81500, numbered B 81501, and was put into service on February 6, 2004 for TER Midi-Pyrénées service. The 200th trainset was put into service 20 November 2006 on the TER Haute-Normandie. The first B 82500 unit was delivered February 2007 and entered into service on the TER Champagne Ardenne
TER Champagne Ardenne
TER Champagne Ardenne is the regional rail network serving Champagne-Ardenne région, France.- Rail :- Bus :* Châlons-en-Champagne - Vitry-le-François* Château-Thierry - Montmirail - Esternay - Sézanne* Chaumont - Clairvaux...
on May 15, 2007.
Depending on configuration, the trains can attain speeds of up to 140 km/h (87 mph) in diesel mode and 160 km/h (99 mph) in electric mode.