Switzerland: The overhaul of the seven-car ICN train (the RABDe 500) has been completed at the Yverdon-les-Bains depot of the operator Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The renewed vehicle is expected to return to service later this year, as soon as the tests are carried out.
There were replaced bogies and traction motors of the train, designed to operate at a speed of 200 km/h and manage curves with a maximum tilt of 8°. Along with the exterior improvements, which included anticorrosion treatment and repainting, the interior was also revamped. In particular, the walls, floor covering, and tables were upgraded. Besides, there was installed a passenger information system.
The Swiss operator received 44 such trainsets from Adtranz/Bombardier Transportation, acquired by Alstom in 2021, between 1999 and 2005. The fleet’s comprehensive overhaul was undertaken from 2012 to 2019. The current refurbishment programme at a cost of CHF 500 mln (€533.7 mln) is intended to extend the service life of the ICNs by another 20 years and planned to be completed by 2031.
