VR Class Sm2
Encyclopedia
The Sm2 is a class of electric multiple unit
s in use by the VR Group
in commuter traffic in the Helsinki area
. 50 Sm2 units were built between 1975 and 1981 by Valmet
airplane factory in Tampere
. The electric systems were built by Strömberg in Pitäjänmäki
, Helsinki
. The Sm2 units have undergone a complete renovation in the 2000s, during which the trains were essentially rebuilt. Only the bodywork and the technics remained mostly untouched. Many of the changes are visible to the passengers, including a different type of seat, modern toilets and a new livery.
To the outside the most significant difference in the appearance of Sm1
and Sm2 units are the corrugations designed to support the structure on the sides of the Sm1 unit. They don't exist in the more modern Sm2. Sm2 units can be coupled together with Sm1 units (but not with Sm4
or Sm5 units), forming trains of at most six units (12 cars), but the length of the commuter train platforms limits the maximum length to five units in commercial traffic. Naturally, the full length trains can be seen in the depot traffic in the mornings and evenings.
Like the Sm1, each Sm2 unit consists of two cars: the Sm2 is actually the motored carriage of the multiple unit, while the other car, the driving trailer, is a part of the Eioc class. The train can be driven from both ends.
The maximum speed of the train is 120 km/h (74.6 mph). The bodywork is made of aluminium, as opposed to steel in Sm1. The bogies are better and the Sm2 units have air suspension instead of steel suspension. The Sm2 units are numbered between 6051/6251 and 6100/6300 (the number of Sm2 unit / the Eioc carriage)
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 in use by the VR Group
VR Group
VR or VR Group is a state-owned railway company in Finland. Formerly known as Suomen Valtion Rautatiet until 1922 and Valtionrautatiet / Statsjärnvägarna until 1995...
in commuter traffic in the Helsinki area
Helsinki commuter rail
Helsinki commuter rail is the commuter rail system serving Greater Helsinki, Finland. The network is operated by VR, the Finnish national railway company. Together with the Helsinki Metro and trams, the network forms the heart of Helsinki's public transportation infrastructure.Trains run above...
. 50 Sm2 units were built between 1975 and 1981 by Valmet
Valmet
' was a Finnish state-owned conglomerate. Valmet was formed in 1951, when the state of Finland decided to group their various factories working on war reparations to the Soviet Union under one company...
airplane factory in Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
. The electric systems were built by Strömberg in Pitäjänmäki
Pitäjänmäki
Pitäjänmäki is a district located on the westernmost district of Helsinki, Finland, near the border with Espoo. There are many IT and machine manufacturing companies in the area, especially around the Valimo railway station. Such companies include Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, ABB, Fujitsu...
, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. The Sm2 units have undergone a complete renovation in the 2000s, during which the trains were essentially rebuilt. Only the bodywork and the technics remained mostly untouched. Many of the changes are visible to the passengers, including a different type of seat, modern toilets and a new livery.
To the outside the most significant difference in the appearance of Sm1
VR Class Sm1
The electric multiple unit Sm1 is the oldest type of commuter train equipment still in active use by the VR Group . Fifty Sm1 units were built between years 1968 and 1973 at Valmet airplane factory in Tampere. It was put into use on the first electrified Finnish railway line between Helsinki and...
and Sm2 units are the corrugations designed to support the structure on the sides of the Sm1 unit. They don't exist in the more modern Sm2. Sm2 units can be coupled together with Sm1 units (but not with Sm4
VR Class Sm4
The Sm4 electric multiple unit is a low-floor train used by the VR Group in Helsinki commuter rail services. The initial order was for ten EMUs with the first unit entering service in 1999. Another 20 units were ordered in 2002 and the deliveries were completed in 2005...
or Sm5 units), forming trains of at most six units (12 cars), but the length of the commuter train platforms limits the maximum length to five units in commercial traffic. Naturally, the full length trains can be seen in the depot traffic in the mornings and evenings.
Like the Sm1, each Sm2 unit consists of two cars: the Sm2 is actually the motored carriage of the multiple unit, while the other car, the driving trailer, is a part of the Eioc class. The train can be driven from both ends.
The maximum speed of the train is 120 km/h (74.6 mph). The bodywork is made of aluminium, as opposed to steel in Sm1. The bogies are better and the Sm2 units have air suspension instead of steel suspension. The Sm2 units are numbered between 6051/6251 and 6100/6300 (the number of Sm2 unit / the Eioc carriage)