BM71

Infobox EMU
name = BM71

---

imagesize = 300px
background = lightblue
caption = A BM71 Airport Express Train at Oslo Central Station.
Manufacturer = ADtranz Strømmen
Operator = Flytoget
Formation = 3 cars
Built = 16 units
LinesServed = Gardermobanen
InService = 1998 - Current
Refurbishment = 2008 - 2009
CarLength = 27.9 m (ends)
26.32 m (centre)
CarWidth =
CarHeight =
Weight = 52 t (ends)
54 t (centre)
Capacity = 168 seats
MaxSpeed = 210 km/h
Gauge = 1,435 mm
Traction =
Voltage = 15 kV AC overhead wire

BM71 is an electric multiple unit used by Flytoget for the airport express trains on the Gardermobanen line in Norway. The trainsets are similar to the NSB BM73, but have three, rather than four carriages and have no tilting mechanism. The sixteen trainsets were built by ADtranz Strømmen between 1997 and 1998.

pecifications

The unit is based on the Swedish X2 designed by ASEA in the 1980s, and delivered from 1990 to SJ for use in their X 2000 high-speed intercity trains. Those the technology involved is similar, the BM71 differs in a few ways. First, the unit does not have a separate locomotive unit, but has the motors spread throughout the train, with one powered and one unpowered boogie in each car. The BM71 is also shorter, with only three cars, and does not have any tilting technology installed. Also, the exterior design, and especially the nose is quite different. NSB later took order of 22 units of the NSB BM73 that is almost identical, but has four cars and has tilting technology installed.cite book |first=Nils Carl |last=Aspenberg |title=Elektrolok i Norge |year=2001 |publisher=Baneforlaget |location=Oslo |language=Norway |isbn=82-91448-42-6]

The BM71 is able of speeds of 210 km/h, compared to 200 km/h in the original. This speed was chosen to make it possible to get from Oslo Central Station to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen in less than 20 minutes. A higher speed than that would however require signaling to be moved from the railside to the cab, and such signaling has not been taken into use in Norway. The units are built in such a way that they cannot be split up without a large hassle, and are never used in anything but their native car configuration. In 2008-09 Flytoget will install a fourth car for each set. To ease use in tunnels the trains are pressure tight.

History

When the Storting decided to built Oslo Airport, Gardermoen on October 8, 1992 they also decided to built a high-speed airport rail link from Oslo Central Station to the airport. This railway, Gardermobanen, was to be built and operated by a subsidiary of Norges Statsbaner, NSB Gardermobanen. To operate the railway they needed sixteen electric multiple units.

In addition to tests in Sweden, the X2 was tried out on Randsfjordbanen on March 12, 1993. The order for the units was placed on February 23, 1995. During 1996 an X2 train was hired in to test out performance on the Norwegian railway system, and for a short period put into service on Sørlandsbanen. The first BM71 unit was delivered on September 19, 1997 and the last on January 30, 1998. This last unit, no. 16, was delivered with tilting mechanism to be used to test performance on the Norwegian railways, due to the similarities between the BM71 and the BM73. It could be seen on during the winter on the challenging Bergensbanen and Dovrebanen railways. After a few years this mechanism was removed.

In 2007 Flytoget announced that they had ordered a fourth car for each of the units. The delivery of the fourth cars would start in 2008 and be built by Bombardier Transportation. [cite web |url=http://www.flytoget.no/Templates/Artikkel.aspx?id=287 |title=Flytoget inngår kontrakt med Bombardier Transportation om kjøp av nye mellomvogner |author=Flytoget |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2007-06-19]

Criticism

The Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Disabled People have criticised Flytoget for ordering identical cars that will not ease access for the disabled. [cite web |url=http://www.shdir.no/srff/fagnytt/langt_igjen_til_universell_utforming__66999 |title=Langt igjen til universell utforming |author=Norwegian State Council on Disability |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2007-06-19] Part of the reason for this was that during construction the weight had increased from 149 to 170 tonnes, and to reduce this to 158 tonnes the original idea of step-free access was discontinued. Instead a wheelchair lift was installed, but this proved not to work.

External links

* [http://www.jernbane.net/norge/bm/bm71/bm71.htm Jernbane.net entry on the BM71] (in Norwegian)

References