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Rhaetian Railway ABe 8/12 Allegra
ABe 8/12 Allegra at Pontresina station.
In service	2009–
Manufacturer	Stadler Rail
Constructed	2009–2011
Number built	15
Fleet numbers	3501–3515
Operators	Rhaetian Railway
Specifications
Train length	49.5 m (162 ft 4+7⁄8 in)
Width	2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
Maximum speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Traction system	ABB BORDLINE CC750 MS 2-level IGBT–VVVF
Power output	AC: 2,600 kW (3,490 hp) DC: 2,400 kW (3,220 hp)
Tractive effort	130 kN (29,230 lbf) 260 kN (58,450 lbf)
Electric system(s)	1 kV DC/11 kV  16.7 Hz AC Overhead
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge

The Rhaetian Railway ABe 8/12, which is also known as the Allegra, is a class of dual voltage metre gauge three car multiple unit trains of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), which is the main railway network in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.

The class is so named under the Swiss locomotive and railcar classification system. According to that system, ABe 8/12 denotes an electric railcar train with first and second class compartments, and a total of 12 axles, eight of which are drive axles.

Technical details

The ABe 8/12 trains were delivered between 2009 and 2011. They are used mainly on Rhaetian Railway routes with steep inclines: the Arosa line, the Bernina Railway, and the route from Landquart to Davos. They are fitted with dual voltage electrical equipment, to enable them to operate on both the Rhaetian Railway's core network, which is electrified at 11 kV 16.7 Hz, and on the Bernina Railway, which is electrified at 1,000 V DC.

Each of the ABe 8/12s is equipped with comfortable air conditioned compartments for both first class and second class passengers. The first class compartment at the front of each train offers a pleasant view of the track from directly behind the driver. In the middle of the ABe 8/12s is a large low floor area, which also allows disabled passengers a comfortable ride. Most units entered regular service soon after delivery.

Metre gauge speed record

On 5 December 2009, during regular pre-service shakedown trials in the Vereina Tunnel, an ABe 8/12 set a new speed record for metre gauge railways of 139 km/h. The previous record had stood at 134 km/h, and had been held by the Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS). The maximum speed previously registered on the RhB had been 110 km/h.

Train names

On 1 May 2010, four trains were baptized in Landquart. The train 3501 got the name of Willem Jan Holsboer, the Dutch founder of the Rhaetian Railway; the train 3502 is called after Friedrich Hennings, an engineer who was the chairman of the building of the Albulabahn. The train 3503 is called after the Swiss alpine ski racer Carlo Janka (grown up in Obersaxen GR) who won the world championship and the olympic gold medal in the giant slalom and who is the overall winner in Men's Alpine Skiing World Cup. The train 3504 got the name of Dario Cologna (grown up in Mustair GR) who is the overall winner of Men's cross-country skier and also gold medal winner of Vancouver.

List of trains

The trains in the class are named, and entered service, as follows:

References

1. "BORDLINE® CC750 MS (1 kVDC and 11 kV AC/16.7 Hz) Propulsion and auxiliary converter for dual-voltage multiple unit trains" (PDF). ABB. 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
2. ^ "Names of the ALLEGRA cars". Rhaetian Railway website. Rhaetian Railway. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)

External links

• Official Rhaetian Railway website
• Manufacturer's site Website of the manufacturer of the ABe 8/12 Allegra
• Datasheet Comprehensive datasheet of the manufacturer (in German)
• Media release Media release about the new speed record (in German)

v t e Rolling stock of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
Steam locomotives	G 3/4 G 2x2/2 G 2/2+2/3 G 2/3+2/2 G 4/5
Electric locomotives	Ge 2/2 Ge 3/3 Ge 2/4 Ge 4/4 I Ge 4/4 II Ge 4/4 III Ge 4/6 Ge 6/6 I Ge 6/6 II Ge 4/4 181 Ge 4/4 182
Electro-diesel locomotives	Gem 4/4
Diesel locomotives	Gm 3/3 Gm 4/4 Gmf 4/4
Railcars	ABe 4/4 (core network) Be 4/4 AB(D)e 4/4 (Arosa) ABe 4/4 I ABe 4/4 II ABe 4/4 III ABe 8/12 ABe 4/16 De 2/2
Tractors	Te 2/2 Tm 2/2 Tmf 2/2
Snow blowers	Xrotd Xrote Xrotm
Passenger cars	ABt BDt Einheitswagen I Einheitswagen II Einheitswagen III Einheitswagen IV Panoramawagen Schwerer Stahlwagen Aussichtswagen

• Stadler Rail multiple units
• Multiple units of Switzerland
• Rhaetian Railway multiple units