Power type Electric Build date 1991–1996 UIC class Bo′Bo′ | Designer Pininfarina Total produced 119 | |
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Builder SLM, Winterthur
ABB, Zürich | ||
The Re 460 (popularly known as the Lok 2000) series are modern four-axle electric locomotives of the Swiss Federal Railways. Upon their entry into service in the early 1990s, they replaced the Ae 3/6I, Ae 4/7 and Re 4/4I series units, and displaced many of the Re 4/4II series into lesser duties.
Contents
The series was introduced as part of the Rail 2000 project, a massive project to modernise and improve capacity on Switzerland's railways. While originally designed as a multipurpose locomotive, they are now used for passenger services only, often in conjunction with the IC 2000 double decker trains (often used to pull InterCity and InterRegio trains in German and French language areas). Their freight role has been assumed by Re 482s. They are maintained at Yverdon.
Assignment
When SBB was split up on 1 September 1999, Re 460 079–118 were assigned to the freight division, later becoming SBB Cargo. It was seen as an advantage to use all Re 460, which had been designed for 200 km/h, for passenger service. The passenger division passed the Re 6/6 to SBB Cargo and bought 079–095 on 1 January 2003, 096–102 2004 and the rest 2005.
Advertising
Due in part to their large, mainly flat bodysides, Swiss Federal Railways were approached early on with requests for the Re 460 to be used as mobile advertising hoardings. Despite opposition from some quarters, the money that could be earned swayed the decision and the first such locomotive, Re 460 015 was unveiled in 1994 in Agfa livery. Today no other loco type in Switzerland carries so many different liveries.
Naming
Almost all Re 460 locomotives are named, with the names being applied below the cab window at one end.
List of names:
Accidents and incidents
On 20 February 2015, locomotive No. 460 087-0 was involved in a collision with S-Bahn Class 514 electric multiple unit 514 146-2 at Rafz.
BLS
Swiss company BLS operates 18 similar locomotives, designated Re 465. These locomotives have efficiency modifications and individual axle control rather than individual bogie control which allows for slightly higher starting tractive effort, but are otherwise identical to the Re 460. Numbered 001-018, all are named. These locomotives are used for both passenger and freight duties by BLS.
List of names:
Usage abroad
The MTR also operates two Re 460 variants for its cross-boundary service to Guangdong from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. This train is called the KTT, which stands for "Kowloon-Canton Through Train", which given by the former operator KCRC before it merged with MTR. Each of these long distance trains works in push-pull mode with a rake of eight double-deck carriages. The MTR locomotives are equipped with knuckle couplers if not with tightlock couplers.
The 46 Sr2 locomotives of VR (Finnish Railways) are closely based on the Re 460, as are the 22 NSB El 18 class used by Norges Statsbaner of Norway. Indian Railways WAP-5 electric locomotives are also based on the Re 460.