Austria: National infrastructure operator OBB-Infrastruktur showed the head car of the train. Functional tests are to begin this year, and the approval procedure is scheduled for 2024.
The three-car train is designed to move both sides without remarshaling at a speed of up to 160 km/h. It is stated to significantly increase the emergency response time compared to currently operating rescue trains by OBB. It also will reduce the total number of trains from 22 to 18. The drive power from catenary is 3,000 kW. Also, the train can be operated autonomously from two diesel gensets with a total capacity of 780 kW and from battery with a capacity of 280 kWh.
The image of Stadler firefighting and rescue train for OBB (enlarge). Source: OBB
Servicejet should allow evacuation of up to 324 people, as well as pull a train weighing up to 2,000 t and power disabled trains. There is a water tank with a volume of 40 m3 installed in the intermediate car. On the head cars there are 4 high-pressure fire-fighting monitors of 100 bar and two low-pressure of 10 bar, as well as foam concentrates, hydrants and other fire-fighting equipment controlled from the cabin. To operate in the tunnels, four fans with a filtration system are installed on the roof. They should allow the air to be cleaned and prevent the penetration of smoke. The manufacturer also installed thermal imaging cameras to detect people in heavy smoke conditions.
OBB-Infrastruktur ordered 5 such firefighting and rescue trains from Stadler in December 2020. Then the contract was extended to 18 trains. Their total cost is €230 mln. The trains are planned to be operated not only in emergency situations, but also for repairs and inspections of the Austrian railway network.
