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V250 (train)
Encyclopedia
The V250, also known as Albatross
, is a high-speed train to be built by AnsaldoBreda
and designed to operate on the newly-built HSL-Zuid
in the Netherlands and its extension HSL 4
in Belgium
. The High Speed Alliance and SNCB will operate these trains on a service branded Fyra
between several Dutch and Belgian cities.
Both the introduction of the signalling system on the Dutch high speed lines required for commercial operation, and the production of the V250 trainsets, were significantly delayed.
and SNCB ordered 19 trainsets in 2004 for operations between Amsterdam
and Brussels
and Breda
on the HSL-Zuid
and HSL 4
high speed railway lines.
In 2008 expectations were for deliveries by 2009 and an introduction into service by the middle of 2009.
The first trainsets had been manufactured by March 2009, and initial tests on the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic took place in early 2009, In April 2009 the first unit arrived in Arnhem
in the Netherlands, and was towed to Amsterdam for tests.
The High Speed Alliance had claimed that the delay of introduction of any trains was due to the lack of a formal ETCS level 2 specification; by March the company was close to financial ruin due to lack of any income, and a re-organisation of track access charges for the unused HSL-Zuid line had to be arranged with the Dutch government.
The service, branded Fyra
, was introduced along with the formal presentation of the prototype V250 train at the high speed train depot at Watergraafsmeer
in the Netherlands on 7 July 2009. The unfurnished prototype underwent testing on both high speed lines, with the ordered trains' expected in-service date of Autumn 2010; introduction of any service on the HSL-Zuid had been delayed due to problems with the introduction of the ETCS signalling system; the line had been built without any legacy safety system. Services on the line began in September 2009 with conventional locomotive haulage, but the introduction of level 2 ETCS on the whole line was not in place, and expected by June 2010.
In 2010 the Dutch transport minister Camiel Eurlings
stated that any introduction of a commercial V250 service on Dutch high speed lines would not take place until December 2011, four years later than was expected at the start of the project.
The carbodies are constructed of aluminium, except the driving cab which is of steel. Three of the coaches are used for first class accommodation, giving 127 first class seats out of a total seated capacity of 546. First class seating is in [2+1] formation, second in [2+2] formation. The design company Pininfarina
also contributed to the design.
Video Videos of V250 being dragged to the Netherlands for testing
Albatross
Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes . They range widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific...
, is a high-speed train to be built by AnsaldoBreda
Ansaldobreda, S.P.A.
AnsaldoBreda S.p.A. is a rail transport engineering company based in Italy. The company designs and manufactures railway and mass transit vehicles.-Company details:...
and designed to operate on the newly-built HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid , is a 125 km-long high-speed railway line in the Netherlands to the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway...
in the Netherlands and its extension HSL 4
HSL 4
The HSL 4 is a Belgian high-speed rail line which connects Brussels to the Dutch border. 87 km long , it was scheduled for completion by 2007.Together with the HSL 1 to the French border and HSL-Zuid to Amsterdam, the line has shortened journeys between Brussels,...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The High Speed Alliance and SNCB will operate these trains on a service branded Fyra
Fyra
Fyra is a high-speed train service operating on the Dutch HSL-Zuid and planned for the Belgian HSL 4, between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, Breda, Antwerp, and Brussels. Fyra shares the high-speed tracks with operator Thalys. The service is offered by NS Hispeed and the NMBS/SNCB...
between several Dutch and Belgian cities.
Both the introduction of the signalling system on the Dutch high speed lines required for commercial operation, and the production of the V250 trainsets, were significantly delayed.
Background and history
NS HispeedNS Hispeed
NS Hispeed is the rail operator in the Netherlands that operates international intercity and high-speed train connections as well as national high-speed trains over the HSL-Zuid high speed line, which are branded as Fyra....
and SNCB ordered 19 trainsets in 2004 for operations between Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
on the HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid , is a 125 km-long high-speed railway line in the Netherlands to the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway...
and HSL 4
HSL 4
The HSL 4 is a Belgian high-speed rail line which connects Brussels to the Dutch border. 87 km long , it was scheduled for completion by 2007.Together with the HSL 1 to the French border and HSL-Zuid to Amsterdam, the line has shortened journeys between Brussels,...
high speed railway lines.
In 2008 expectations were for deliveries by 2009 and an introduction into service by the middle of 2009.
The first trainsets had been manufactured by March 2009, and initial tests on the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic took place in early 2009, In April 2009 the first unit arrived in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
in the Netherlands, and was towed to Amsterdam for tests.
The High Speed Alliance had claimed that the delay of introduction of any trains was due to the lack of a formal ETCS level 2 specification; by March the company was close to financial ruin due to lack of any income, and a re-organisation of track access charges for the unused HSL-Zuid line had to be arranged with the Dutch government.
The service, branded Fyra
Fyra
Fyra is a high-speed train service operating on the Dutch HSL-Zuid and planned for the Belgian HSL 4, between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, Breda, Antwerp, and Brussels. Fyra shares the high-speed tracks with operator Thalys. The service is offered by NS Hispeed and the NMBS/SNCB...
, was introduced along with the formal presentation of the prototype V250 train at the high speed train depot at Watergraafsmeer
Watergraafsmeer
The Watergraafsmeer is a polder in The Netherlands. It was reclaimed in 1629. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were many buitenplaatsen in the Watergraafsmeer, though nowadays only one, Frankendael, remains....
in the Netherlands on 7 July 2009. The unfurnished prototype underwent testing on both high speed lines, with the ordered trains' expected in-service date of Autumn 2010; introduction of any service on the HSL-Zuid had been delayed due to problems with the introduction of the ETCS signalling system; the line had been built without any legacy safety system. Services on the line began in September 2009 with conventional locomotive haulage, but the introduction of level 2 ETCS on the whole line was not in place, and expected by June 2010.
In 2010 the Dutch transport minister Camiel Eurlings
Camiel Eurlings
Camiel Eurlings is a former Dutch politician and a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He was the minister at the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management from 22 February 2007 to 14 October 2010...
stated that any introduction of a commercial V250 service on Dutch high speed lines would not take place until December 2011, four years later than was expected at the start of the project.
Design
The 8-car trainsets are designed to operate on 3kV DC, 1.5kV DC and 25kV 50 Hz AC overhead power supply, allowing operations on both Dutch and Belgian electrified networks. Traction is distributed with alternating powered and trailer vehicles in MTMTTMTM formation.M indicates a powered vehicle (motor), T an unpowered vehicle (trailer) Electric traction power is controlled by water-cooled IGBT inverters powering asynchronous motors. They are fitted with ETCS Level 2 and local train safety systems.The carbodies are constructed of aluminium, except the driving cab which is of steel. Three of the coaches are used for first class accommodation, giving 127 first class seats out of a total seated capacity of 546. First class seating is in [2+1] formation, second in [2+2] formation. The design company 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,...
also contributed to the design.
External links
ImagesVideo Videos of V250 being dragged to the Netherlands for testing