SBB-CFF-FFS RBDe 560 - General Information

General Information

In 1984 four pre-series sets (each consisting of a motor car and a driving trailer) were delivered. Ordered in 1981, they originally bore the RBDe 4/4 designation and road numbers 2100-2103. All four trainsets (RBDe 560 + Bt) were delivered in different color schemes, one of which was the livery used for the main series (blue over white sides, yellow doors, and red faces). The striking contrast to the green color scheme of previous SBB passenger stock led to the name Kolibri (Hummingbird), which is, however, rarely used. Nearly all the RBDe 560 sets have been named after smaller municipalities along the lines served by these trainset received the appropriate coat of arms.

A full order for 80 trainsets followed. A few years later an additional order for a further 42 trainsets was placed. 6 trainsets were ordered by private railroads (Südostbahn (SOB), PBr, MThB, Montafonerbahn, etc.), resulting in a total production of 134 series trainsets. The last were put in service in 1996.

For cost reasons, up to the procurement of new low floor intermediate cars Domino starting in 2006, modernized Einheitswagen (EW) I and II coaches are used to achieve the desired passenger capacity. A standard set has a second class and a combined first/second class car, but sets with zero or up to three intermediate cars are being operated.

The motor cars have a power output of 1650 kW, a maximum speed of 140 km/h, a weight of 70 tons, and are 25 meters long. The series (560 000-083 through 560 100-141) forms the largest group of regional/suburban traffic motor cars of SBB, with 126 vehicles.

In May 2006 a modernization program was begun by the SBB for 120 of its trainsets. The motor cars and driving trailes are being refurbished and then matched with new air-conditioned low floor intermediate coaches to form Domino trains. The existing EW I and II coaches will, after well over 40 years of service, be scrapped. Further use of the trucks on these coaches is being considered. The 188 new intermediate cars are to be delivered coinciding with the modernization, which is forecast to take 7 years and should be complete by 2013.