With Dm11 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) ought to come back to Finnish railways, but VR cancelled order on Nov 10 1997, because rail cars do not fulfil the agreed technical requirements. The biggest problems are too much weight and too high interior noise levels. Already six rail cars were delivered and tested in Finland.
According to the contract the weight of each railcar should be 38 tons, however it weights nearly 9 tons more. The noise level inside is around 12 decibels higher than was written into the contract. Railcars will be returned to the manufacturer.
Last DMU on Finnish railroads was Dm9 in 1990 between Turku and Uusikaupunki. Then old DMUs were replaced with locomotive hauled trains. But later in the 1990es were need to decrease the costs of short passenger trains. After international competition a serie of 16 rail car were ordered in 1995 with a value of 80 million Finnish marks (about 27 million German marks). First Dm11 was delivered in February 1997.
Buses were manufactured by GEC Alsthom in Barcelona, Spain. They have diesel-engines and can be driven from both ends. Driver acts also as a conductor. They have place for 145 passengers, with 79 sitting. Even the WC is planned to be easy to use also for people with disabilities.
Source: Matkaan 2/1997, journal Rautatietekniikka
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Created Thu, Oct 9 1997 Kimmo Kotimäki. Updated
Tue, Oct 16 2007 Kimmo
Kotimäki. Copyright Kimmo Kotimäki 1999. Copying is allowed
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