BLS RABe 528

BLS RABe 528
Silver train with green accents
BLS No. 105 at Burgdorf in 2022
Purple-upholstered seats
Second class seating area
In service2021–present
ManufacturerStadler Rail
Number built58
Fleet numbers
  • 101–130 (RegioExpress)
  • 201–228 (S-Bahn)
Capacity275 seated + 200 standees
OperatorsBLS AG
Specifications
Train length104,900 mm (344.2 ft)
Width2,880 mm (9.45 ft)
Height4,260 mm (13.98 ft)
Articulated sections6
Maximum speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Electric system(s)15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
UIC classificationBo’Bo’2’2'2’Bo’Bo’
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Notes/references
[1]

The BLS RABe 528, also known as MIKA,[a] is a class of passenger electric multiple unit manufactured by Stadler Rail for BLS AG. It is a derivative of the Stadler FLIRT and began entering service in 2021. It is comparable to the Traverso of Südostbahn.

History

BLS AG ordered 58 trainsets from Stadler Rail in 2017 at a cost of CHF 650 million. BLS planned to use the trains on Bern S-Bahn services and on longer RegioExpress services.[3] The RABe 528 will replace locomotive-hauled Einheitswagen III [de] coaches and the RBDe 565 [de] and RBDe 565 [de] multiple units.[4] The first trains entered service on 10 May 2021 on the InterRegio 66 between Bern and Neuchâtel.[5]

Design

Each formation is composed of six cars, with a maximum seating capacity of 275. They can accommodate another 200 standees. Altogether the formation is 104,900 mm (344 ft 1+15⁄16 in) long. Cars are 2,880 mm (9 ft 5+3⁄8 in) wide and 4,260 mm (13 ft 11+11⁄16 in) tall. The design speed is 160 km/h (99 mph). There are different internal layouts for longer-distance trains compared to S-Bahn trains but they are mechanically identical.[1]

Naming

RABe 528 119 is named after Domodossola, Italy

It is common customs for Swiss railway companies to name their locomotives (e.g. SBB Re 620, BLS Re 465) and MUs (e.g. SBB RABe 501, SOB RABe 526, BLS RABe 515, BLS RABe 525). Ten BLS RABe 528 are named after communes in the Swiss cantons of Bern, Lucerne and Neuchâtel, while two additional ones are named after communes in the Italian state of Piedmont. Each train bears the commune's coat of arms (COA) below the driver's window. The list below contains only named trainsets with their respective number (№).[6][7] As of 2025, RABe 528 110 has a special livery of Kambly.[8]

№ COA Name   № COA Name   № COA Name
528 101 Luzern 528 114 Frutigen 528 120 Wimmis
528 104 Entlebuch 528 012 Brig-Glis 528 122 Erlenbach im Simmental
528 110 Trubschachen 528 118 Commune di Varzo 528 123 Boltigen
528 111 La Chaux-de-Fonds 528 119 Città di Domodossola 528 202 Neuenegg

Notes

  1. ^ German: moderner, innovativer, kompakter Allroundzug, lit. 'modern, innovative, compact all-round train'[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "New BLS FLIRT Unveiled". Railvolution. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ BLS (29 November 2022). "Charterzüge: RABe 528 «MIKA» - Charter & Flotte". BLS (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Mega-Deal der Privatbahn - BLS kauft Stadler-Züge für 650 Millionen". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (in German). 2 May 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. ^ BLS (3 August 2016). "Rollmaterialbeschaffung - Neue Züge für sorgloses Reisen - BLS AG". BLS (in German). Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  5. ^ BLS (12 August 2016). "BLS nimmt erste MIKA-Züge in Betrieb – 04.05.2021 – BLS AG". BLS (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  6. ^ "BLS RABe 528.1 "MIKA"" (in German). juergs.ch. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  7. ^ "BLS RABe 528.2 "MIKA"" (in German). juergs.ch. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  8. ^ "RegioExpress Kambly train". BLS. Retrieved 21 January 2025.