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Encyclopedia
ALe 426/506 TAF is an Italian
Electric Multiple Unit
(EMU) used mainly on commuter regional trains.
Two different companies employ them: Trenitalia
and Ferrovie Nord Milano
(FNM).
Concept design has been made by Italian designer Pininfarina
.
Recently some slightly modified version of the EMU have been purchased by Moroccan Railways,
Two sections can be coupled together, but by now it is not possible on Trenitalia units (on FNM ones is common practice).
The total capacity of the train is of 469 seated and 372 standing passengers.
Motors are mounted on one bogie per motorized unit, for a total of two motorized bogies per section.
This choice, however, has not proven too wise: first of all the power is very high in respect of the weight (3640 kW for 273 tons.), and the poor distribution of traction power along the train (only on the edges) induces poor performances in case of poor adhesion.
In fact TAFs are known for their frequent wheel slippage.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
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...
(EMU) used mainly on commuter regional trains.
Two different companies employ them: Trenitalia
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
and Ferrovie Nord Milano
Ferrovie Nord Milano
450px|thumb|Map of the main branch of the FNM lines. FNM operates also the [[Brescia]]-[[Edolo]] railway in eastern [[Lombardy]], not shown in map.Ferrovie Nord Milano is an Italian public transport company: the second largest railway company in Italy. It operates primarily in the northern Italian...
(FNM).
Concept design has been made by Italian designer Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
.
Recently some slightly modified version of the EMU have been purchased by Moroccan Railways,
Description
Each train is formed by fixed sections of four bi-level pieces: two motorized units (ALe 426/506) and two coaches between them (Le 736).Two sections can be coupled together, but by now it is not possible on Trenitalia units (on FNM ones is common practice).
The total capacity of the train is of 469 seated and 372 standing passengers.
Technique
ALe 426/506 employs asynchronous three-phase traction motors feed by the 3000 V DC catenary, which produce a characteristic sound while accelerating and dynamically braking.Motors are mounted on one bogie per motorized unit, for a total of two motorized bogies per section.
This choice, however, has not proven too wise: first of all the power is very high in respect of the weight (3640 kW for 273 tons.), and the poor distribution of traction power along the train (only on the edges) induces poor performances in case of poor adhesion.
In fact TAFs are known for their frequent wheel slippage.