Passenger Trains > Stadler FLIRT H2 train at Brightline Orlando

Stadler has been running test trips this week for attendees at the American Public Transit Association (APTA) meeting in Orlando. The FLIRT H2 train ran between the maintenance facility and within 500 feet or so of the Orlando Airport station. I’ve ridden the Arrow DMU and this version is almost silent. Should be running on the CA Arrow service late next year.

Posted from iPhone

Man it's been getting around.  Pueblo testing must have gone without a hitch.

Nathan

atsf121 Wrote:
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> Man it's been getting around.  Pueblo testing
> must have gone without a hitch.
>
> Nathan

Stadler staff said it went well.

Posted from iPhone

I wonder if they are considering the Flirt's for the Miami to West Palm Beach commuter rail? 

Lots of videos on Linkedin of the flirt. It looks really damn good next to Basecamp

Not ever having seen a "FLIRT H2" train, I looked it up and figured others might like to see what it looks like so here it is.

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Stadler has a good reputation elsewhere. I rode one of their "Traverso" EMU trainsets, a little different from the FLIRT design, and used on regional routes, in Switzerland a few weeks ago. Quite comfortable (seats were very good, unlike the Amtrak Venture seats), spacious and fresh inside. The low-floor low-boarding-height center-door design was good for the many smaller secondary stations, which have lower rail-height platforms. Rode very smoothly and well, and had impressive acceleration and power on mountain grades - made track speed on 2% grades with ease. The trainsets are now several years old, but still felt tight and well built and are wearing well under heavy traffic use - I heard nary a rattle or other unusual noise. They seem to be popular with the locals.

That was electric traction of course, so it's different than these H2 trainsets. But the points remain that the trainset was impressive overall. Notably, the very engineering-oriented Swiss are buying Stadler equipment in several types from FLIRT and "Traverso" up to their high-speed "Giruno" EMU trainsets almost exclusively now, and have sent Bombardier / Alstom and Siemens packing. Stadler is a Swiss company, and Alstom cried foul for preferential treatment and sued. They lost in a high court. As I understand it, Swiss Railways (SBB) presented compelling evidence of the technical and operational superiority of the Stadler designs. Article: https://www.railjournal.com/financial/court-confirms-stadler-sbb-emu-order/

It will be interesting to see what happens with this H2 design. Impressed as I was with Stadler's equipment overseas, I hope that they can gain a good market share here. I think we would be well served. As for Siemens...oh well here in the Midwest - decidedly a much more mixed bag.

MC

Photos:

1) Stadler "Traverso" EMU trainset in regular regional Treno Gottardo service on the SBB Gotthard Line, as seen at Bellinzona, Canton Ticino, Switzerland on Friday 9/23/23. In the handsome paint scheme of regional operator Sudostbahn ("South East Railroad"), which operates these hourly (!!!) services in cooperation with SBB, much like the state DOTs do with Amtrak for Amtrak Midwest, Empire and California services.

A Stadler FLIRT EMU for TILO regional service (southern Switzerland SBB - northern Italy Trenord joint service) is seen on the far track. That was apparently a protection trainset (imagine that!) for use in a service disruption, or to protect a service when its equipment cycles into the shop. The train was parked there the whole afternoon I was in Bellinzona through the late afternoon rush.

2) Stadler SBB "Giruno" high-speed EMU trainset in detouring InterRegio (inter-regional) service (which usually runs via the new Gotthard Base Tunnel) on the second level of the famed Biaschina spiral tunnels of the old SBB Gotthard Line near Giornico, Canton Ticino, Switzerland on Wednesday 9/21/23. Services like these were detouring on the famous old Gotthard Line, with its spiral tunnels and stone-arch bridges, due to a serious accident in the new Base Tunnel on August 10. That wreck completely closed one of the two tubes. Repairs are proceeding well, and already some of these trains are returning to the Base Tunnel route.

The "Traverso" trainsets will continue on the old route, performing local and regional services there as they have been since they went into service.



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/23 09:36 by ironmtn.

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I'll often put the Zurich Hauptbanhoff railcam on the 'tube if I'm still up around midnight (morning rush in Switzerland) and wondered what those beautiful copper colored trainsets were.