Silberlinge/Buntlinge/n-Wagen on DB

[Bletchleyite]

With Silberlinge/n-Wagen having come up in discussion on the thread about hustle alarms, it led me to wonder - are any still in service on DB, and if so where? Can't be many left now.

For those unfamiliar, that's these:

Train of "Rotlinge" being propelled by a diesel locomotive in Germany

 

[superjohn]

They see very limited use these days, all on a hired in “ersatz” basis covering for units that are not yet in service or lost in accidents.

There is a thread on the Drehsheibe Online forum that is kept fairly up to date with the current situation.

Drehscheibe Online Foren :: 49 - Fahrzeiten-Forum :: n-Wagen Einsätze 2023

www.drehscheibe-online.de

It is in German but easy enough to follow. Beware that some of the workings around Stuttgart use equally uncommon former DR double deck stock, look for references to “Dostos”.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cheers!

 

[Beebman]

I've found a video on YouTube shot last April of hired-in stock in service on RE90 (Stuttgart-Nürnberg) due to late delivery of Go-Ahead's new Flirt uints:

 

[Bletchleyite]

The UIC/RIC standard Drehfalttuer (folding door) really is an absolute design classic, so good to see the video starting with one in operation. So many lives would have been saved (as well as delay minutes while guards walked down trains to shut doors that had been left open) if only BR hadn't gone "not invented here, ner".

The XP64 set had something similar but I think the two panels opened the opposite way, i.e. the large panel went inwards.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

'Silberlinge' is the usual name used in Germany, even for red ones. Some carriages (or sets?) were named
The doors with foldaway 'floor' were fun, but not for disabled people
One memory is of endless walks trying to find the non-smoking area, and the tip-up seats
Windows did open, mind, +1

 

[eastwestdivide]

They see very limited use these days, all on a hired in “ersatz” basis covering for units that are not yet in service or lost in accidents.

There is a thread on the Drehsheibe Online forum that is kept fairly up to date with the current situation.

Drehscheibe Online Foren :: 49 - Fahrzeiten-Forum :: n-Wagen Einsätze 2023

www.drehscheibe-online.de

It is in German but easy enough to follow. Beware that some of the workings around Stuttgart use equally uncommon former DR double deck stock, look for references to “Dostos”.

Handy link - amazed to see there's no immediate end in sight to their use on the Wuppertal workings (with a class 110), and rumoured to be in use until 2025!

National Express RB48 Ersatzzug
Aktuell kein Einsatzende absehbar, laut Gerüchten bis 2025

 

[superalbs]

Be surprised if you found anything interesting around Stuttgart, either single deck or double deck.

Was there a few weeks ago, and it was almost exclusively just Talent 2 and FLIRTs, as shown here:


And a couple of DB new-ish double-deck stock, like this:


There was one Connex loco on an Abellio IRE service though, with some ~2000s blue double-deck stock, see here:

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

@superalbs
Any news, progress report on Stuttgart 21?
A new Oberbuergermeister is being elected there soon, could be interesting if Rockenbach wins

 

[rg177]

The ALEX service between Immenstadt and Oberstdorf was operated by a Siemens BR223 loco and a couple of n-wagen in January.

I'd witnessed portion working with the Lindau service in times past but this was a dedicated set that pulled in behind.

 

[superalbs]

@superalbs
Any news, progress report on Stuttgart 21?

It's still just a pit, so maybe it will be Stuttgart 22?

 

[JonathanP]

With the opening of the BER airport, Stuttgart 21 has to carry the mantle of "embarassing German engineering project" alone, so they have decided up their game. Stuttgart is now to be "the world's first digital railway hub".

I am not sure exactly what that involves, but I guarantee that it will involve a very large amount of money taking a one way journey into the bank accounts of signalling equipment supplierrs.

 

[43096]

There was one Connex loco on an Abellio IRE service though, with some ~2000s blue double-deck stock, see here:

They're not Connex locos. They may have been many years ago when built, but they are now Akiem owned and leased out. There are two of them that have been used on the ersatzzug workings round Stuttgart, leased to Wedler Franz Logistics, who have sourced the temporary replacements.

 

[StephenHunter]

Well, Connex isn't exactly a name you want to be remembered for...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well, Connex isn't exactly a name you want to be remembered for...

I don't believe it has the same negative connotation on the mainland as it did here,

 

[duesselmartin]

I don't believe it has the same negative connotation on the mainland as it did here,

I believe the name Connexxion is still used in the Netherlands.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I believe the name Connexxion is still used in the Netherlands.

That isn't anything to do with CGEA/Connex, it was a Government owned entity and is now part of Transdev.

 

[DanielB]

In between the period as Government owned company and as a part of Transdev Connexxion was actually owned by Veolia Transdev, a joint-venture of Transdev and Veolia (the latter being former Connex).
But further you're right: the name Connexxion has nothing to do with Connex.

Veolia Transport Netherlands (the legal successor of the three Connex-doughters BBA, Limex and SBM) however also had quite a bit of negative publicity after being the cheapest bidder for a concession in Limburg, bringing the company on the verge of bankruptcy which was narrowly avoided by renegotating with the province of Limburg. But by now the former Connex group has completely disappeared from the public transport market here.

 

[JonasB]

@superalbs
Any news, progress report on Stuttgart 21?
A new Oberbuergermeister is being elected there soon, could be interesting if Rockenbach wins

The youtube channel S21Bau.TV is a good place to follow the progress of Stuttgart 21. They publish almost daily from the construction site. https://www.youtube.com/user/S21BauTV

 

[bussikuski179]

Well, Connex isn't exactly a name you want to be remembered for...

Funnily enough Connex is quite warmly remembered in Finland, though they only did buses here, and Veolia and Transdev weren’t quite as good, though Transdev recently ended operation here.

 

[duesselmartin]

Connex also had a better reputation in Germany than DB Regio did.

 

[duncombec]

Connex also had a better reputation in Germany than DB Regio did.

Was this regional? I don't recall their outfit in Schleswig-Holstein (Nord-Ostsee-Bahn) having a good reputation at all... and their service standards were pretty similar to Connex in the UK as well!

 

[duesselmartin]

The Marschbahn incumbent was always and still is rubbish.
In NRW the trend seems to be, the larger the TOC gets, the more the service goes downhill.
Wether its NordWestBahn, Keolis, National Express or Abellio.
Now that DB Regio shrunk into insignifcants in this region, their performance seem to improve.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Funnily enough Connex is quite warmly remembered in Finland, though they only did buses here, and Veolia and Transdev weren’t quite as good, though Transdev recently ended operation here.

Veolia of course is Connex - just a renamed version of CGEA (Compagnie Generale des Eaux) which owned/owns it all.