ČD Class 680

ČD Class 680
Pendolino 680 007 at Praha hlavní nádraží, Prague's main railway station
Manufacturer	Alstom (formerly Fiat Ferroviaria)
Family name	Pendolino
Constructed	2004
Entered service	2006
Number built	Seven 7-car sets
Formation	see text
Operator(s)	České dráhy
Specifications
Train length	185.3 m (607 ft 11 1⁄4 in)
Maximum speed	Design: 230 km/h (140 mph) Service: 160 km/h (99 mph) Record: 237 km/h (150 mph)
Weight	384.0 t (377.9 long tons; 423.3 short tons)
Power output	Eight 490 kW (660 hp) traction motors, 3,920 kW (5,260 hp) total
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC 15 kV ​16 2⁄3 Hz AC 3,000 V DC Catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

ČD Supercity Pendolino
Intercity Services
km 0 Františkovy Lázně 7 Cheb 37 Mariánské Lázně 49 Planá u Mariánských Lázní 80 Stříbro 113 Plzeň hl.n. 222 Praha Smíchov 226 Praha hl.n. 330 Pardubice hl.n. 476 Olomouc hl.n. 577 Ostrava Svinov 582 Ostrava hl.n. 590 Bohumín

ČD Class 680 are electric multiple units operating in the Czech Republic, using tilting Pendolino technology. Built by Alstom (originally Fiat Ferroviaria), they were largely based on the nine-car ETR 470. While testing from Břeclav to Brno on November 18, 2004, the Pendolino reached a speed of 237 km/h (147 mph) and created a new Czech railway speed record.^[1] The units are able to operate on 25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV ​16 ²⁄₃ Hz AC and 3,000 V DC.

View of the Second Class interior

History

The initial Czech order for tilting trains was placed with Fiat Ferroviaria during 2000. As part of the Alstom take over of Fiat Ferroviaria the order was changed to Pendolino trains. The first set was delivered in 2004 as Pendolino ČD 680.

During the testing period, the train had problems with the Czech signalling system. The problems were reported to have been solved and the trains entered regular service in December 2005 between Prague and Ostrava. As of late January 2006, all five of the in-service trains suffered from software and operating problems, rangeing from failing air conditioning and heating to malfunctions of the tilt controls. The supposedly ERTMS-compliant ATLAS control system is unable to properly connect several discrete systems, each based on different software platforms. Similar problems have also been reported with the Finnish VR Class Sm3. All problems were fixed.

Formation

The seven car units are composed as:

Cars are individually numbered, with the driving motors carrying their numbers on the nose.

Operations

In December 2006 Czech Pendolinos were given permission to operate in Slovakia and Austria.

In 2009 and 2011, one pair of ČD 680s operated as SuperCity Slovenská Strela between Prague and Bratislava. However, it was cancelled due to a low demand, since the train was not actually faster, but more expensive.^[2]

During 2015 ČD Pendolinos operated nine trips a day in each direction on the Prague-Pardubice-Olomouc-Ostrava route, with some continuing to Bohumín and one continuing to the Slovakian city of Košice. Twice a day the service is extended from Prague to Františkovy Lázně via Plzeň.^[3]

Accidents

• On December 1, 2007 a Pendolino derailed in Prague. No one was injured but the train was severely damaged.^[4]
• On July 22, 2015 train SC 512 en route from Bohumín to Františkovy Lázně collided with a truck at a railway crossing. Three passengers died and 17 people were injured.

See also

• List of ČD Classes
• List of high speed trains

References

External links

• Media related to ČD Class 680 at Wikimedia Commons
• Atlas Lokomotiv Website Czech
• Website about 680 class Czech
• fansite Czech