Girish Mahajan (Editor)

ČD Class 680

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Family name
  
Pendolino

Entered service
  
2006

Formation
  
see text

Constructed
  
2004

Number built
  
Seven 7-car sets

ČD Class 680

Manufacturer
  
Alstom (ex Fiat Ferroviaria)

ČD Class 680 are electric multiple units used in the Czech Republic, using tilting Pendolino technology. Built by Alstom (ex Fiat Ferroviaria) they were largely based on 9-car ETR 470. While testing from Břeclav to Brno on November 18, 2004, the Pendolino reached a speed of 237 km/h and created a new Czech railway speed record. The units are equipped to work on 25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV  16 2⁄3 Hz AC and 3,000 V DC.

Contents

History

The initial Czech order for tilting trains was placed with Fiat Ferroviaria during 2000. As part of the Alstom take over of Fiat Ferroviaria the order was changed to Pendolino trains. The first set was delivered in 2004 as Pendolino ČD 680.

During the testing period, the train had problems with the Czech signalling system. The problems were said to be solved and the trains entered regular service in December 2005 between Prague and Ostrava. As of late January 2006, all five Czech Pendolino trains that had been put in service suffered from software and functional problems. The range of problems was spanning from failing air conditioning and heating, to failures of the tilting control. The supposedly ERTMS compliant control system ATLAS is not able to properly join several discrete systems each based on different software platforms. Similar problems have also been reported with Finnish VR Class Sm3. All problems were fixed.

The train was featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. While in reality the Czech Pendolino does not actually operate the route, in the movie it was shown to journey from Switzerland to Montenegro. In the 2008 movie Wanted, the train was featured with real Czech Railways logo and equipment.

Formation

The seven car units consist of:

  • Class 681 Driving Motor First
  • Class 081 Trailer First
  • Class 683 Motor Buffet Second
  • Class 084 Trailer Second
  • Class 684 Motor second
  • Class 082 Trailer Second
  • Class 682 Driving Motor First

    • Cars are individually numbered, with the driving cars carrying their numbers on their noses.

    Operations

    In December 2006 Czech Pendolinos were given permission to operate in Slovakia and Austria.

    In 2009 and 2011, one pair of ČD 680 operated as SuperCity Slovenská Strela between Prague and Bratislava. However, it was cancelled due to a low demand, since the train was not actually faster, but more expensive.

    schedule 2015:

  • ČD pendolinos operate 9 times a day each direction on the route Prague-Pardubice-Olomouc-Ostrava, with some continuing to Bohumín and one continuing to Slovakia, the city of Košice. Twice a day the service is extended from Prague to Františkovy Lázně via Plzeň.

    • Accidents

  • On December 1, 2007 a Pendolino derailed in Prague. No one was injured but the train was severely damaged.
  • On July 22, 2015 – Studénka train crash 2015, train SC 512 Pendolino on its way from Bohumín – Františkovy Lázně collided with a truck on a rail crossing. Three passengers died and 17 people were injured.

    • References

    ČD Class 680 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA