Domino

The 20 years old NPZ commuter trains of Swiss Federal Railways are undergoing a comprehensive refit program (project name: DOMINO) at the SBB workshops in Olten and Yverdon. New low floor coaches from Bombardier are added to the train sets to meet the legal requirements regarding equal opportunities for handicapped passengers. The refurbished trains will be used in the Rhone valley by 'RegionAlps' and as 'Glarner Sprinters' in the eastern and central parts of Switzerland. In a consortium with Helbling Technik and PROSE AG, ENOTRAC is in charge of the engineering for the refit program. The cartoon illustrates some of the difficulties all involved parties had to cope with.

RhB Bernina Line

The power supply of the Bernina line of RhB (Rhaethian Railway) needs reinforcing to make full use of the powerful trains RhB has ordered from Stadler. At the southern end of the line in Tirano (Italy), an additional rectifier substation would be needed, but the AC supply of this rectifier across the border from Switzerland would cause tremendous difficulties with customs regulations. Therefore a controlled rectifier will be installed on the Swiss side of the border and Tirano will be fed from this rectifier via long feeder cables. Apparently, direct current (DC) can cross the border without any customs duties... An alternative solution with a battery wagon to raise the catenary voltage is shown on the cartoon. A similar concept, using supercaps, has already been realised by rolling stock suppliers such as Bombardier (Energy Saver).

MOB Variable Gauge Bogies

MOB has developed, together with PROSE AG, a new bogie allowing a gauge change from meter gauge to standard gauge and vice versa. With this new bogie concept, passengers shall be able to travel on the Golden Pass route between Montreux and Interlaken without the need to change from the meter gauge trains of MOB to the standard gauge trains of BLS at Zweisimmen. In reality, the meter gauge trains will not look as narrow as shown on the cartoon when running on standard gauge track.

ICE & Cisalpino Trains

Recently, some ICE services between Zurich and Stuttgart had to be replaced by other rolling stock because of the additional inspections required on the wheel sets of the ICE trains. Since the new Cisalpino tilting trains will not be ready for the next change of the time table, temporary solutions will also be needed for these trains between Zurich and Milano Centrale. The rolling stock proposed on the cartoon as a replacement for these trains would be attractive at least for the railway enthusiasts.