In beginning of 1990es VR began to plan new wagon type replace ageing "blue" wagons. Double deck concept was interesting, because it offers cost reduction both in build and operation. This comes from better use of space, and also about 20% less weight per passenger seat compared to traditional coaches. Finnish loading gauge is also big enough for double deck wagons. All coaches are pressure tight and air-conditioned. The coaches have also passenger information system and sockets under fixed tables for charging laptop computers and mobile phones. Lower deck has amplifier for better use of mobile phone, upper deck is more quiet also in this respect. The floor height of 55 cm is on the same level as new or rebuilt platforms. The coaches are based on modular design and have aluminium body.
First batch of 42 coaches was ordered in 1995 from Transtech with order value of FIM 500 million. VR wagons have similarities to double deck wagons ordered for Swiss SBB at about in the same time. First wagons are used since summer 1998. First wagons were limited first to 160 km/h, but changed later for 200 km/h operation. In 1998 a second batch of 50 wagons were ordered, limited to 200 km/h. The batch was delivered until year 2002.
In summer 2000 VR introduced IC2 trains formed solely about double deck wagons. Unfortunately Sr2 locomotives and double deck coaches disturb each other aerodynamically when speed is more than 160 km/h. The problem can be solved by using one single deck IC-wagon between locomotive and double deck wagon. At the moment the problem doesn't exists, because there are no lines for 200 km/h trains without tilting capability. Actually, to year 2001, all IC trains were driven with maximum speed of 140 km/h, because drivers wanted a second engineer to locomotive when speed is more than 140 km/h, and VR didn't want to pay for this. This changed in summer 2001 when 160 km/h was used when train was late. From 2nd June 2002 IC-trains had timetables made for maximum speed of 160 km/h between Kerava and Tampere.
On 29th October 2003 VR ordered 20 double decker sleeping coaches from Talgo for a price of 59 million euros. Coaches will be delivered until year 2006. They will be set in traffic between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, because they have only electrical heating. Coaches have air conditioning and some cabins have shower.
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2712 visits Jan 29th 2001 - Mar 6th 2007.
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Copyright Kimmo Kotimäki 2001. Copying is allowed only by written
agreement with the author, except for private use. Created Mon, Jan 22
2001 Kimmo Kotimäki. Updated
Sat, Mar 31 2007
Kimmo Kotimäki.