NSB B5
Encyclopedia
NSB Class 5 or B5 is a series of passenger carriages built by Strømmens Værksted
for the Norwegian State Railways. Built between 1977 and 1981, they went through a major upgrade between 2008 and 2012. Sixty-three units were delivered. Each is 25.3 metres (83 ft) long, 3.1 metres (10.2 ft) wide, and 4.075 metres (13.4 ft) tall. They weigh 42 tonnes (41.3 LT) and have a maximum permitted speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph). They are used predominantly on the Dovre Line, the Nordland Line and the Vestfold Line.
Coach types before upgrade:
Coach types after upgrade 2010-2012:
The first upgraded coaches were used on the Vestfold Line (Oslo-Skien) from 20.06.2011.
's plant in Hungary. The purpose of the upgrade was to provide commuters along the Vestfold Line with an intermediate upgrade while waiting for the delivery of Class 74
electric multiple unit
s which are scheduled for delivery in 2010. The set consists of seven sets of eight carriages. When the Class 74 trains are delivered, NSB will move the B5 cars to the Nordland Line and the Dovre Line, where they will also be equipped with a dining car
.
The process is more than two years delayed, and the first set was planned to be delivered in 2008. With the new schedule, the last sets will be delivered in 2012. Upgrades include new, now closed, toilets, new seating, power outlets, air conditioning
and NSB's new red, silver and orange livery. In addition, they will receive new bogie
s. After delivery, the carriages will have to be test-run for up to six months before being approved by the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
.
During the upgrade, asbestos
was found, which was one of the main causes of the delay. Originally the upgrade was budgeted to cost 500 million Norwegian krone
(NOK), but with the extra work the bill increased by NOK 200 million. Another cause was that NSB switched their supplier of heating, air conditioning and ventilation. In September 2009, Bombardier sued NSB in an arbitration
, demanding NOK 73 in extra payment. NSB, on the other hand, has sued Bombardier for the same amount of money. The companies have agreed on part of the compensation, although how much the total will be, is the issue of the case.
Strømmens Værksted
Strømmens Værksted A/S was an industrial company based in Skedsmo, Norway, specializing in the production of rolling stock. Founded in 1873, it remains as a part of Bombardier Transportation...
for the Norwegian State Railways. Built between 1977 and 1981, they went through a major upgrade between 2008 and 2012. Sixty-three units were delivered. Each is 25.3 metres (83 ft) long, 3.1 metres (10.2 ft) wide, and 4.075 metres (13.4 ft) tall. They weigh 42 tonnes (41.3 LT) and have a maximum permitted speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph). They are used predominantly on the Dovre Line, the Nordland Line and the Vestfold Line.
Coach types before upgrade:
| B5-2 | Coach with 2nd class seating |
| BC5 | Coach with 2nd class seating (relaxing seats) |
| BC5-2 | Coach with 1st class (Komfort) and 2nd class seating |
| BF14 | Coach with baby compartment, wheelchair compartment, staff room and luggage room |
Coach types after upgrade 2010-2012:
| B5-3 | Coach with 2nd class seating |
| A5-1 | Coach with 1st class seating (Komfort) |
| BC5-3 | Coach with 2nd class seating, playroom and wheelchair area |
| FR5-1 | Coach with bistro, staff room and luggage room |
The first upgraded coaches were used on the Vestfold Line (Oslo-Skien) from 20.06.2011.
Renovation
As part of a larger renovation program which also included the B7 carriages and the Class 69 trains, 56 B5 cars were renovated at Bombardier TransportationBombardier 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....
's plant in Hungary. The purpose of the upgrade was to provide commuters along the Vestfold Line with an intermediate upgrade while waiting for the delivery of Class 74
Stadler FLIRT
Stadler FLIRT is an electric multiple unit produced by Stadler Rail AG. The articulated trainset comes in units of two to six cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is 200 km/h...
electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s which are scheduled for delivery in 2010. The set consists of seven sets of eight carriages. When the Class 74 trains are delivered, NSB will move the B5 cars to the Nordland Line and the Dovre Line, where they will also be equipped with a dining car
Dining car
A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
.
The process is more than two years delayed, and the first set was planned to be delivered in 2008. With the new schedule, the last sets will be delivered in 2012. Upgrades include new, now closed, toilets, new seating, power outlets, air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
and NSB's new red, silver and orange livery. In addition, they will receive new bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s. After delivery, the carriages will have to be test-run for up to six months before being approved by the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
The Norwegian Railway Inspectorate is a Norwegian government agency responsible for control and supervision of rail transport in Norway, including railways, tramways, rapid transits, heritage railways and side tracks....
.
During the upgrade, asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
was found, which was one of the main causes of the delay. Originally the upgrade was budgeted to cost 500 million Norwegian krone
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
(NOK), but with the extra work the bill increased by NOK 200 million. Another cause was that NSB switched their supplier of heating, air conditioning and ventilation. In September 2009, Bombardier sued NSB in an arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
, demanding NOK 73 in extra payment. NSB, on the other hand, has sued Bombardier for the same amount of money. The companies have agreed on part of the compensation, although how much the total will be, is the issue of the case.