NS DM 90

Updated on Jan 29, 2024

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Manufacturer Talbot Number built 53		Constructed 1996-1998 Operator(s) Nederlandse Spoorwegen

Fleet numbers 3401 - 3453 (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) 50-62 (Syntus) Capacity 12 first class 123 standard class 34 folding seats

The NS Class 3400 diesel multiple units were built by Duewag, Talbot and SIG between 1996 and 1998. They operate in the Netherlands. They are operated by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen and some are currently on loan to Syntus. The class is referred to as DM'90 or Buffel by the Dutch, which means Buffalo. Class 3400 are now the only DMUs in service with the NS, the older DE3 ("Plan U") and DH1/2 ("Wadloper") series having been replaced by the diesel electric Stadler GTW. DM'90 is short for Dieselmaterieel 90, meaning Diesel rolling stock from the 1990s.

History

In 1993, NS ordered 53 units of the class from Talbot, now Bombardier. The electrical systems, train controls, and diagnostic systems were delivered by Holec Ridderkerk, now Alstom. Duewag installed the interiors of the trains in Krefeld, after which the units were transferred to the Netherlands. Unit 3401 was delivered on March 12, 1996, and the last unit, 3453, was brought into service in 1998.

Originally there were intentions to order a follow-up series of the 2-car units, alongside the possible development of a single-car unit, however these were never realised due to the privatisation of many of the diesel-served lines.

The rolling stock was introduced in the end of the 1990s on a large portion of the non-electrified lines in the Netherlands. In the period thereafter many of these routes were transferred to private sector operators, Syntus and several other operators used the sets for their services, others were temporarily used on electrified sectors for local services.

Description

Like the SM'90 ("Railhopper"), the DM'90 uses a non-standard width of 3.2 meters, this was made possible by the distinctly bent side-walls which allowed the cars to be 30 centimetres wider than conventional trains while being within the loading gauge. This allowed a 5 abreast seating arrangement, however the trains were eventually delivered with only the standard 4 abreast configuration.

Power is provided by two Cummins (NTA 855 R4) diesel motors, each delivering up to 320 kW of power to the Voith hydraulic transmission, driving the axles on the inner bogies. The bogies were Stork-manufactured RMO 9000 series, also used on the SM'90, and DD-IRM trains. The top speed was 140 km/h, reduced to 100 km/h when running in combination with the older (also dieselhydraulic) Wadloper series trains.

The combination of disk brakes and quiet operation results that the trains are often poorly detected by axle counters which are commonly found on the lines where the DM'90 operates. Train-protection is provided by ATB-NG. For cross-border operations out of Heerlen, three sets were equipped with the German PZB train protection system along with boarding steps to accommodate the lower platform height.

Between 2008 and 2013, the sets operating between Zwolle and Kampen were provided with passenger information displays showing connection information in Zwolle, as tendered by the province of Overijssel.

The trains are equipped with heating provided by both engine heat and, when necessary, additional electrical heaters. In depots, the heaters can be powered externally to avoid the need for operating the motors. Air conditioning is only present in the driver cab.