The Re 460 (popularly known as the Lok 2000) series are modern four-axle electric multipurpose locomotives of the Swiss Federal Railways. The Lok 2000-family locomotives are the last mainline locomotives to be quasi fully developed and produced by Swiss companies. Locomotive construction in Switzerland has since been largely discontinued for economic reasons. Only Stadler Rail still manufactures shunting and rack railway locomotives in the country.

SBB-CFF-FFS Re 460
Re 460 with IC 2000 double decker trainset, between Elgg and Schottikon
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerPininfarina
BuilderSLM, Winterthur
ABB, Zürich
Build date1991–1996
Total produced119
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Length18,500 mm (60 ft 8 in)
Width3,000 mm (9 ft 10 in)
Height4,310 mm (14 ft 2 in)
Loco weight84 t (83 long tons; 93 short tons)
Electric system/s15 kV  16+23 Hz AC Catenary
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motorsABB 4-FXA 7065 3-phase with GTO- (after modernisation IGBT-) VVVF
Loco brakeAir, regenerative and magnetic track brake
Train brakesAir
Couplersbuffers and chain
Performance figures
Maximum speed200 km/h (124 mph)[1]
Power output6,100 kW (8,180 hp) max.
5,600 kW (7,510 hp) cont.
Tractive effort230 kN (51,710 lbf) cont. @88 km/h (55 mph)
Career
OperatorsSBB-CFF-FFS
ClassRe 460 000 – Re 460 118
NicknamesLok 2000

Assignment

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The series was introduced as part of the Rail 2000 project, a massive project to modernise and improve the capacity of Switzerland's railways.[2]

Upon their entry into service in the early 1990s, they replaced the Ae 3/6I [de], Ae 4/7, and Re 4/4I [de] series units, and displaced many of the Re 4/4II series into lesser duties.

When SBB was split up on 1 September 1999, Re 460 079–118 were assigned to the freight division, later becoming SBB Cargo. It was seen as an advantage to use all Re 460, which had been designed for 200 km/h, for passenger service. The passenger division passed the Re 6/6 to SBB Cargo and bought 079–095 on 1 January 2003, 096–102 in 2004, and the rest in 2005.

While originally designed as a multipurpose locomotive, they are now used for passenger services only, often in conjunction with the IC 2000 double-decker or EW IV [de] trainsets (often used to pull InterCity and InterRegio trains in German and French language areas). Their freight role has been assumed by Re 482s.

They are maintained at Yverdon.

Advertising

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Due in part to their large, mainly flat bodysides, Swiss Federal Railways were approached early on with requests for the Re 460 to be used as mobile advertising hoardings. Despite opposition from some quarters, the money that could be earned swayed the decision, and the first such locomotive, Re 460 015 was unveiled in 1994 in Agfa livery. Today no other loco type in Switzerland carries so many different liveries.

Naming

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Almost all Re 460 locomotives are named, with the names being applied below the cab window at one end.

List of names:

List of alternate names due to special liveries[3]
Serial Name Period Livery
Re 460 003 Roger 2008 National Suisse / Roger Federer
Re 460 014 FORTICO 21 Jun 1996 – 30 Oct 1997 Holderbank Cement: HCB
Re 460 015 uf u dervo 27 Jun 2004 – 9 Oct 2006 Schweizer Radio DRS III
Re 460 016 TRAMONT 11 Apr 1997 – 27 May 1998 ABB / Adtranz I-V
Re 460 018 Louis Danzas 23 Jan 1995 – 17 Apr 1997 Danzas AG
Re 460 018 Leutschenbach I 22 Jan 2005 – 5 Oct 2005 Schweizer Fernsehen SF DRS II
Re 460 019 Miele 17 Aug 1995 – 4 Nov 1996 Miele: Miele Schweizer- und Euronorm
Re 460 020 idée suisse 24 Mar 1999 – unknown SRG SSR idée suisse
Re 460 021 Lovely 4 Oct 1995 – 26 Mar 1997 ZVSM: Milch. Die natürliche Energie
Re 460 024 Doris Leuthard 22 Jun 2006 – unknown Zugkraft Aargau II
Re 460 032 Leutschenbach II 6 Jan 1997 – 18 Oct 2005 Schweizer Fernsehen SF DRS Leutschenbach II
Re 460 033 Ascolino 2 Sep 1996 – 31 Oct 1997 Ascom verbindet Menschen
Re 460 035 Roger 2015 Helvetia Insurance / Roger Federer
Re 460 040 Helen Lüthi 20 Apr 2002 – 5 Sep 2005 100 Jahre SBB 1902–2002
Re 460 056 Leutschenbach I 6 Jan 1997 – 5 Aug 2004 Schweizer Fernsehen SF DRS Leutschenbach I
Re 460 073 DRS 1 12 May 2004 – 10 May 2007 Schweizer Radio DRS 1
Re 460 079 Morgestraich 5 Oct 1999 – 15 Mar 2004 ChemOil Logistics AG
Re 460 079 Stein am Rhein 30 Mar 2004 – 20 Jul 2005 25 Jahre Verkehrsclub der Schweiz
Re 460 101 Magic Ticket 2 Jun 2004 – unknown SBB: Magic Ticket – Hopp Schwiiz

See also: Re 460 special liveries (German Wikipedia)

Accidents and incidents

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460 087-0 after the accident at Rafz.

On 20 February 2015, locomotive No. 460 087-0 was involved in a collision with S-Bahn Class 514 electric multiple unit 514 146–2 at Rafz.

Swiss company BLS operates 18 similar locomotives, designated Re 465. These locomotives have efficiency modifications, slightly higher power output and tractive effort and individual axle control rather than individual bogie control, but are otherwise identical to the Re 460. Numbered 001–018, all are named.[4] These locomotives are used for both passenger and freight duties by BLS.[5]

 
Rolling highway near Lalden, pulled by two BLS Re 465
 
BLS Re 465 007 named Schilthorn („Piz Gloria“)

List of names:

  • 001 Simplon/Sempione/Adler/Staatswappen Schweiz/Italien/BLS AplTransit/Lötschberg
  • 002 Gornergrat
  • 003 Jungfraujoch–Seespiele
  • 004 Mittelallalin-Valaistourisme
  • 005 Niesen
  • 006 Lauchernalp
  • 007 Schilthorn
  • 008 Niederhorn
  • 009 Napf
  • 010 Mont Vully
  • 011 Wisenberg
  • 012 Euro Tunnel
  • 013 Stockhorn
  • 014 Spalenberg
  • 015 Vue-des-Alpes
  • 016 Centovalli
  • 017 Schrattenflue
  • 018 Brienz Rothorn Bahn

Usage abroad

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KTT passing through Guangzhou

The MTR Corporation of Hong Kong also operates two Lok2000 variants for its cross-boundary service from Kowloon, Hong Kong, to Guangzhou, China. They were introduced in 1998 when the service was operated by the KCRC; accordingly, the train is called the KTT, which stands for "KCR Through Train". These long-distance trains have ten double-deck carriages[6] and are equipped with knuckle couplers, instead of buffers and chain couplers. While the train has two locomotives, it is not operated in push-pull mode.

 
MTR KTT locomotive TLS002 on Guangzhou–Shenzhen Railway reversing at Guangzhou East railway station

The 46 Sr2 locomotives of VR (Finnish Railways) are closely based on the Re 460, as are the 22 NSB El 18 class used by Vy of Norway. Indian Railways' WAP-5 electric locomotives are also based on the Re 460. The shape of the modified version of China Railways SS9 electric locomotives is similar to Re 460.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The allowed top speed is 200 km/h. In order to get the approval to run at that speed, the locomotive must be able to go 15% faster; thus, the technical top speed is 230 km/h (143 mph), see Article by Bruno Lämmli Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine (German). However, this is not relevant in normal operation. Therefore, the table holds the allowed top speed, as for any other rail vehicle.
  2. ^ "Bahn 2000 Rail Network Improvements, Switzerland". rail-technology.com. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Pictures of all Re 460". info24.jimdofree.com. info24 by Marcel Manhart. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  4. ^ "BLS Rolling Stock – Re 465". BLS AG. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  5. ^ "Class Re 465 locomotives for heavy-haul freight service". Professional Engineering Publishing. Retrieved 28 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Kowloon-Canton Railway". rail-technology.com. Retrieved 28 September 2009.