SNCF Class X 73500
The X 73500 are single-car trains, known as A TER, Blue Whales, Cucumbers or Sausages. They are used in France and several neighbouring countries, providing services on the TER and Intercités systems.
Description
These carriages were developed as part of a collaboration between the Société nationale des chemins de français (SNCF) and Deutsche Bahn (DB).
After the X 72500 series, which represents the first generation of modern TER carriages, the X 73500 is an important series. It includes rolling stock for rural and sometimes suburban services, as well as its derivatives, such as the X 73900, which are used for cross-border services.
Thanks to their modern design, they are equipped with equipment that was not used in previous generations of carriages. These include:
- dynamic internal and external electronic boards for travellers;
- body with a reinforced front section (impact absorption zone and reinforced cabin);
- the central part of the carriage is low-floor, to facilitate access for people with limited mobility;
- 2 large entrance doors on the side of a single 1300 mm wide leaf;
- two traction diesel engines are located under the control cabins;
- the presence of 2 electromagnetic emergency braking shoes on the bogie on each side.
They can be combined into so-called multiblocks (MU), consisting of a maximum of three elements. However, despite this, passengers cannot move from one carriage to another while traveling.
A cross-border version was developed specifically for use in Germany, receiving the serial number 641. These trains are the German counterparts of the X 73500 series, which were created as a result of a joint study by SNCF and DB for servicing regional lines. Although similar in appearance, the VT 641 is not compatible with the X 73500.
Between October 2000 and April 2001, CFL purchased six carriages, numbered 2101 to 2106. These carriages were intended exclusively for overhead power, so CFL sold them to the Lorraine region in late 2006. Renumbered 73813 to 73818, these carriages were brought into line with the rest of the X 73500 series and lost their CFL livery.
The driver’s cab is equipped with a convenient joystick for controlling traction and braking. It has seven traction modes and fifteen braking stages, allowing you to choose the best option for any situation. An on-board computer controls the braking process, using either a hydrodynamic or air brake depending on the conditions.
To the right of the driver is the gearshift lever and keyboard for setting up the on-board computer. To the left are controls for the horn, radio, and buttons for opening and closing the doors, turning on cruise control and emergency stop. The speed indicator is conveniently located in the center of the console.
The car has 61 fixed seats, as well as 8 folding seats, located longitudinally and facing the toilets.
Routes
Intercités
- Aurillac – Brive-la-Gaillarde
- Clermont-Ferrand – Gannat – Lapeyrouse – Commentry – Montluçon
- Clermont-Ferrand – Thiers – Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux
- Clermont-Ferrand – Aurillac
- Clermont-Ferrand – Issoire – Brioude – Le Puy-en-Velay
- Clermont-Ferrand – Volvic
- Lyon-Perrache – Roanne
- Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux – Roanne
- Lyon-Part-Dieu – Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux – Le Puy-en-Velay
- Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux – Montbrison – Boën
- Grenoble – Chambéry
- Grenoble – Clelles – Mens – Veynes – Gap – Briançon
- Lyon-Saint-Paul – Tassin – Brignais
- Tassin – Lozanne
- Étang-sur-Arroux – Autun
- Étang-sur-Arroux – Montchanin – Chagny – Chalon-sur-Saône
- Montchanin – Paray-le-Monial
- Dijon – Montchanin – Cercy-la-Tour – Nevers
- Nevers – Cosne-sur-Loire
- Nevers – Étang-sur-Arroux
- Besançon – Valdahon – Morteau – Le Locle – La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Dijon – Dole – Besançon
- Dole – Mouchard – Andelot – Champagnole – Saint-Claude
- Dole – Mouchard – Andelot – Frasne – Pontarlier
- Vallorbe – Frasne – Pontarlier
- Montbéliard – Belfort – Lure – Vesoul
- Belfort – Lure – Épinal
- Belfort – Montbéliard – Besançon
TER Bretagne
- Brest – Châteaulin – Quimper
- Brest – Landerneau
- Brest – Landerneau – Morlaix
- Brest – Landerneau – Landivisiau
- Rennes – Châteaubriant
- Carhaix – Guingamp – Paimpol
- Saint-Brieuc – Dinan
- Dol-de-Bretagne – Dinan
- Plouaret – Lannion
- Auray – Quiberon
TER Centre-Val de Loire
- Tours – Chinon
- Chartres – Courtalain
- Montluçon – Saint-Amand-Montrond – Bourges
- Tours – Saint-Pierre-des-Corps
- Tours – Saumur
- Tours – Bressuire – La Roche-sur-Yon
- Vierzon – Mehun-sur-Yèvre – Bourges
- Chartres – Tours via Châteaudun
TER Grand Est
- Strasbourg – Wissembourg
- Strasbourg – Molsheim – Sélestat
- Strasbourg – Lauterbourg
- Strasbourg – Saverne
- Strasbourg – Sarreguemines – Sarrebruck
- Colmar – Munster – Metzeral
- Mulhouse – Thann – Kruth
- Mulhouse – Müllheim – Freiburg
- Metz-Ville – Verdun
- Metz-Ville – Saint-Avold – Forbach – Sarrebruck
- Metz-Ville – Trèves
- Nancy – Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
- Épinal – Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
- Nancy – Pont-Saint-Vincent
TER Normandie
- Rouen – Caen
- Le Havre – Rolleville
- Le Havre – Fécamp
- Rouen – Le Havre
- Caen – Granville
- Caen – Alençon
- Limoges – Périgueux
- Brive-la-Gaillarde – Périgueux
- Agen – Périgueux
- Monsempron-Libos – Penne – Agen
- Pau – Oloron-Sainte-Marie – Bedous
- Bayonne – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
- Limoges – Meymac – Ussel
- Limoges – Brive
- Brive – Tulle – Ussel
- Limoges – Angoulême
- Limoges – Felletin
- Limoges – Poitiers
- La Rochelle – Rochefort
- La Roche-sur-Yon – Bressuire – Tours
- Les Sables-d’Olonne – Saumur
- Nîmes – Le Grau-du-Roi
- Nîmes – Alès
- Nîmes – La Bastide – Mende
- Mende – Saint-Chély-d’Apcher
- Carcassonne – Quillan
- Toulouse – Auch
- Toulouse – Figeac
- Toulouse – Rodez
- Rodez – Brive-la-Gaillarde
- Rodez – Millau
- Toulouse – Mazamet
- Nantes – Vertou
- Nantes – Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
- Nantes – Pornic
- Nantes – La Roche-sur-Yon – Les Sables-d’Olonne
- Bressuire – Tours
Manufacturer: Alstom / De Dietrich Ferroviaire
Assembly: Reichshoffen (France)
Years of production: 1999—2004
Production: 318 units
Length: 28,900 mm
Width: 2900 mm
Height: 3700 mm
Track gauge: 1435 mm
Passenger capacity: 61 seats
Powerplant: MAN D 2866 LUH (6 cylinders)
Continuous power: 514 HP
Max speed: 140 km/h
Weight: 50 t
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