Favorite European Multiple Unit?

[Rick1984]

Not been on many but did like:
DB Region Swinger

Latvian DR1

Latvian ER2, with 3+3 wooden bench seats

Interior
http://bonbytes.eu/lat/lat_rigarrmuseum_vintage_er2_inside_2_184_riga_L.jpg

 

[northwichcat]

Renfe class 599 for me. They were almost new trains on the Algeciras to Ronda route when I travelled on it - nice train for a stunning route.

http://www.caf.net/en/productos-servicios/proyectos/proyecto-detalle.php?p=224

 

[47513 Severn]

Germany wins again for me in the shape of the ET403 'Donald Duck' units. Futuristic looking (even now!), fast and luxurious.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_403
Only three sets were ever built and unfortunately they were all withdrawn before I was able to travel on them.

One is being restored though, so hopefully I will get my chance in time. More information here (in German but google translate does a reasonable job):
http://et403.com/home.html

 

[LBSCR Times]

BR798 / 998.
Get up to 6 of them together and half way along the branch the rear 3 split off and trundle back whence they came!

 

[Blamethrower]

Koplopers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Intercity_Materieel

 

[F Great Eastern]

Took a few rides on the Z50000 Francilien last few days - Amazing trains!

That kind of interior is just what is needed for places that have a reputation for dark, dull old trains, it really would help shake off all perceptions of the past?

 

[AlexNL]

I took a ride on a 442 a while ago, and quite liked it. I'm talking about a Talent 2 by the way

The National Express livery looks really good on these units, and I loved how quick they are to accelerate. I also really liked the internal finishing, for a regional unit it looked quite high-end:

 

[class387]

Took a few rides on the Z50000 Francilien last few days - Amazing trains!

That kind of interior is just what is needed for places that have a reputation for dark, dull old trains, it really would help shake off all perceptions of the past?

Yes, the interior is stunning. Definitely my favourite modern unit. The ride and acceleration is decent too.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Yes, it was very noticeable how quiet they are.

Whilst that kind of interior won't be suitable anywhere, it would be a huge statement to use it in places with reputations for old dark rolling stock to shake off bad perceptions and to encourage more passengers.

 

[Groningen]

I am not objective in this, but i like all the Dutch trains; especially the Koploper or ICM 3/4.

We had also that looked that like your Pacers. In the summer hot untill they installed AC. It did its job, but that is the only positive thing. That train comes at the very bottom of likeable trains.

 

[30907]

ÖBB class 4010 InterCity unit. For their comfortable seats when such were rare in mainland Europe (or so I thought 40 years ago). Numbered as EMU though more like a push-pull set.

 

[Groningen]

Nice thing of the 4010 that the window could be completely lowered 20 years ago.

 

[Bletchleyite]

ÖBB class 4010 InterCity unit. For their comfortable seats when such were rare in mainland Europe (or so I thought 40 years ago). Numbered as EMU though more like a push-pull set.

Open access operator HKX have taken some of those on now.

 

[30907]

Open access operator HKX have taken some of those on now.

But, sadly, don't seem to be doing anything with them. And with them down to 4 return trips a week, I fear they won't....

 

[Bletchleyite]

But, sadly, don't seem to be doing anything with them. And with them down to 4 return trips a week, I fear they won't....

It does look rather like they have a rich backer who is playing trains, doesn't it? I don't see how they can be making money.

I find it interesting that nobody seems to have tried UK-style Open Access, with multiple trains a day every day, in Germany yet.

That said, I imagine we will see an attempt at "Flixtrain" soon enough.

 

[AlexNL]

I find it interesting that nobody seems to have tried UK-style Open Access, with multiple trains a day every day, in Germany yet.

From 2001 until 2014, there was the InterConnex Intercity service between Berlin and Leipzig. Veolia ran 3 return trips a day Monday to Friday, during weekends the service was extended to Rostock (but less frequent).

At the end of 2014 the service was axed because Veolia could no longer make money with it: infrastructure charges kept rising while the deregulation of the long distance coach market meant that lots of customers switched onto the cheaper buses ran by Meinfernbus, Flixbus, and so on.

 

[sarahj]

I am not objective in this, but i like all the Dutch trains; especially the Koploper or ICM 3/4.

We had also that looked that like your Pacers. In the summer hot untill they installed AC. It did its job, but that is the only positive thing. That train comes at the very bottom of likeable trains.

I always thought that when the Koploper trains joined the front bit opened and you could could walk from one unit to the next. When I was last in the Netherlands I noticed this was not so. Did it happen, and if so, why did it end?

 

[duesselmartin]

I always thought that when the Koploper trains joined the front bit opened and you could could walk from one unit to the next. When I was last in the Netherlands I noticed this was not so. Did it happen, and if so, why did it end?

I believe that function was axed during mid life renovation

 

[AlexNL]

I always thought that when the Koploper trains joined the front bit opened and you could could walk from one unit to the next. When I was last in the Netherlands I noticed this was not so. Did it happen, and if so, why did it end?

As duesselmartin stated, the interconnecting gangways have been removed when the trains got their major overhaul. In its final years, the "doorloopkop" was unreliable in service so NS opted to have it removed entirely.

The space which was freed up by this removal was used for the placement of equipment racks for the on-board wifi and information system.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

We had also that looked that like your Pacers. In the summer hot untill they installed AC. It did its job, but that is the only positive thing. That train comes at the very bottom of likeable trains.

I'd say that's more like a 153 (or a bubble-car) than a pacer- being a single-car and having bogies rather than a rigid wheelbase. Always thought that many Dutch trains have a certain charm about them, particularly regional/commuter units from around the late 60s up to the late 80s (at a guess). Particularly like the names too: Hondekop/Dog-head is very fitting for those units!

 

[duesselmartin]

I must add Portugal CP 0450 DMU s today. Just experienced those fantastic modernised time machine

 

[jayiscupid]

Open access operator HKX have taken some of those on now.

They cancelled the plans as the cost of refurbishment was high. There was also a comment that the interiors were too posh for a budget service though I would have thought this would be a big bonus. The Hamburg - Koln route isn't exactly high speed so surely it's better to compete on comfort.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They cancelled the plans as the cost of refurbishment was high. There was also a comment that the interiors were too posh for a budget service though I would have thought this would be a big bonus. The Hamburg - Koln route isn't exactly high speed so surely it's better to compete on comfort.

After having done one? It would seem to make sense to use the one they did!

They sort of do compete on comfort - they show off about the comfort/retro nature of the compartment stock they are using.

I don't think they will last, to be honest - I have no idea how they can sustain a company with lots of full time staff on 3 return trips a week at budget fares.

 

[jayiscupid]

After having done one? It would seem to make sense to use the one they did!

They sort of do compete on comfort - they show off about the comfort/retro nature of the compartment stock they are using.

I don't think they will last, to be honest - I have no idea how they can sustain a company with lots of full time staff on 3 return trips a week at budget fares.

There's some photos of it here:

http://rail-sim.de/forum/index.php/Thread/15412-Ersten-modernisierten-ÖBB-4010-Wagen-für-HKX/

 

[Bletchleyite]

There's some photos of it here:

http://rail-sim.de/forum/index.php/Thread/15412-Ersten-modernisierten-ÖBB-4010-Wagen-für-HKX/

That looks very nice. I don't understand why they don't use it.

Interesting that they seem to be converted to LHCS rather than being EMUs as built.

 

[jayiscupid]

That looks very nice. I don't understand why they don't use it.

Interesting that they seem to be converted to LHCS rather than being EMUs as built.

The cost of updating the original 4010 locos was found to be too high so the plan was to haul them using a Taurus and run round at each end. Would have made for a great tail end observation car but sadly they pulled the plug.

HKX sounded like such a good plan at the start but it seems to be struggling and they keep cutting the service back. Now it's just one return train per day 4 days a week. I wonder how the new Locomore service between Berlin and Stuttgart will fare?

 

[duesselmartin]

I always wonder how HKX survives especially with off seadon loadings being very modest.

 

[jayiscupid]

I always wonder how HKX survives especially with off seadon loadings being very modest.

I guess the answer is they don't....

They've now reduced service to only weekends.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/hkx-hamburg-%E2%80%93-cologne-express-to-only-run-on-weekends.html?channel=524

 

[Bletchleyite]

It strikes me that they're just playing trains, rather than running a profitable business.

The UK regulatory landscape doesn't really allow for that in the same way (charters aside).

 

[Allegheny1600]

For me, it would be a toss up between these two;

Both seen at Munich in September 2014, anyone know the difference between them!?!

Actually, I really like this shot!

Hamburg Harburg, September 2013.

That's high speed units anyway, of regular units, there are many choices!
For classic units, yes I love the DR VT18.6 too, a really classy looking machine.
Cheers,
John.