Sm4 in Jokela at 29th April 1999. Photo copyright by Wäinö Savela.
Sm4 is a new commuter EMU for local traffic in Southern Finland. First units were deliveder on 1999, about a half year late. They were used mainly in the Helsinki metropolitan area. First serie was designed by Fiat Ferroviaria, but manufactured by CAF in Spain. Trains have regenerative braking, low floor and room for six bikes.
On 25th June 2002 VR announced, that it has ordered 20 new Sm4 train sets. Trains should have been manufactured in Italy by Alstom Ferroviaria, but this was changed to Alstom Reichshoffen factory in France. The price of the new trains is approximately 110 million euros altogether.
The trains are intended mainly for commuter traffic between Helsinki-Riihimäki and Helsinki-Karjaa but can also be used for longer journeys, e.g. for local traffic between Helsinki-Tampere and on the direct line that will be built from Kerava to Lahti. Trains have been delivered to Finland from April 2004 to February 2005.
The city train is aluminium-bodied. Its top speed is 160 km/h. One trainset consists of two cars with a seating capacity for 184 and standing room for about 100 passengers. The cars have a low floor, thus enabling access to the train directly from the platform level. Each trainset has a wheelchair space and a handicapped toilet. The train has also space for bicycles and prams. The city train is air-conditioned and equipped with infomonitors. The new trains are energy saving, since the energy generated during braking is fed back. As a result, the energy consumption is cut by about 25%.
Apart from acquiring new trains, VR has refurbished half of its fleet of 100 Sm commuter trains. The remaining ones, i.e. the newer Sm2 trains, will be refurbished by the end of this decade. The prototype of the refurbished Sm2 trains was be placed in trial service at the end of June 2002. Refurbishing of this train series will start year 2003 on the basis of operational experience and feedback from customers.
Sources
2810 visits 5/28/1999-3/6/2007.
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Copyright Kimmo Kotimäki 1997. Copying is allowed only by written agreement
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Created Thu, Oct 9 1997 Kimmo Kotimäki. Updated
Sat, Mar 31 2007
Kimmo Kotimäki.