Favorite European Multiple Unit?

[duesselmartin]

Hi all,
I like to expand on the favorite locomotive threadby Harbonite to EMU and DMUs.
My favorite is the first Pendoline, FS ETR 450 series. Exited to see what the rest of you nominate

Source:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix_frameset.html

 

[class387]

Was waiting for this, so many for me to list. So in no particular order:

MS61
Recently withdrawn Paris suburban units (RER A). Made the best noise ever from an EMU.

Z50000 Francilien
New Paris suburban units. Good ride and acceleration and a beautiful interior (I posted an image in the Class 345 thread).

Z55500 Regio2N
Smart articulated double deck trains. Nice interior and very smooth ride.

ICE 3 Velaro
My favourite version of my favourite intercity service. The ICE1/2 are not highspeed to me and the ICE3D is too bland and clinical.

RABe 511 Stadler KISS
My favourite double deck train.

AM80 Break
Comfortable leather bench seats that can be used in 2+1 layout and great thrash on a fast run.

AM96
Extremely nice suburban/short-distance intercity units much better than UK Desiros/Electrostars. Also strangely like the way they look.

Pictures of trains, in order (not mine):

 

[317666]

God, where do I begin!

I've always had a soft spot for the MS66/73 two-car sets in Belgium:

MS73 750 - La Louvière-Sud by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

Also a fan of the Breaks as mentioned above, although it's a shame the refurbished units aren't nearly as comfortable. As far as the Paris RER goes, the MI84s (especially unrefurbished!) are a personal favourite, not a popular choice I'm led to believe!

MI84 8417 - Boissy-Saint-Léger by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

Also a big fan of the Z6400s which run out of Saint-Lazare, although sadly their days are now numbered.

The SGMs in the Netherlands:

SGMm 2937 - Amsterdam Centraal by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

The 4020s on the S-Bahn in Vienna:

4020 290 - Wien Quartier Belvedere by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

The Be 4/4 sets on the RhB in Switzerland (technically push-pull sets I know!):

RhB Be 4/4 511 - Igis by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

And finally the VT628 DMUs, an icon of German branch lines which is slowly disappearing:

VT628s - Mühldorf by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

I'm sure I'll remember more later, I basically love anything old and/or knackered!

 

[class387]

I am always in the wrong part of Belgium for the AM66s, but hope to ride them on a Belgian Interrail next year, considering it isn't too late.

Agreed with the Z6400s (nearly put them on my list) but as for the MI84s, they are horrible. Give me a Merseyrail Pacer any day.

 

[317666]

...but as for the MI84s, they are horrible. Give me a Merseyrail Pacer any day.

That's part of the appeal for me Whilst we're on the subject of French EMUs, I forgot to mention the ancient Z5300s still running on the D and R in the peaks, and I also enjoy riding any of the Z2Ns, but especially the Z5600s/8800s.

 

[duesselmartin]

DB 628.4 certainly did not last long. Most had only 20 years of service

 

[class387]

That's part of the appeal for me Whilst we're on the subject of French EMUs, I forgot to mention the ancient Z5300s still running on the D and R in the peaks, and I also enjoy riding any of the Z2Ns, but especially the Z5600s/8800s.

Do like the unrefurbished Z5300s, though the refurbishment takes quite a lot of character away from them. Can't say I am a fan of Z2Ns, but I welcome any double deckers I see with open arms.

 

[Groningen]

The Dogshead from the Netherlands (the windows could be lowered for extra sound):

 

[duesselmartin]

Or even the Plan V, dear Groningen

 

[Harbornite]

I like the look of PESA Links but I haven't seen any in person. I also quite like the Bombardier Talent 2 (which I have been on). Flirts aren't bad looking and neither are the Alstom AGVs, although I much prefer the original TGV trains. The latest pendolino model (used by PKP IC among others) and Veloras are quite nice looking. Overall I prefer the looks of British units to European.

 

[rf_ioliver]

Sadly all now gone, though one is being restored, the forerunner of the Finnish Pendolino - Dm9: The Porkkana (The Carrot):

But, alas along with the unique Dm10, a victim of politics...

t.

Ian

 

[Flying_Turtle]

Well, personally I do love the Portuguese Railways 2300/2400

the 3400 articulated units aren't bad at all also:

[YOUTUBE]6Uh25BzB_D4[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Groningen]

Duesselmartin: The Dogshead and Plan T/V are not the same types of trains.

2 Times TEE from the 1970's:

Credits go to Nico Split.

 

[Harbornite]

Duesselmartin: The Dogshead and Plan T/V are not the same types of trains.

2 Times TEE from the 1970's:

Credits go to Nico Split.

The DB/DR TEE units are a classic, and recognisable as being on the cover of the trans europe express album by Kraftwerk.

 

[Groningen]

VT 18.16 (Germany)

The Camel (Netherlands):

 

[Harbornite]

VT 18.16 (Germany)

The Camel (Netherlands):

The VT 11 was the Deutsch Bundesbahn design and in my opinion, it looks better than the VT 18 that was the Deutsch Reichsbahn design.

 

[duesselmartin]

Sadly there are no German TEE VT11.5 in operational condition despite a set operating into the 1990s

 

[317666]

DB 628.4 certainly did not last long. Most had only 20 years of service

Indeed, a terrible waste. They're still quite common in some areas though, for instance around Mühldorf as in my photo.

One more modern unit design I really like is the ET423, a very common sight on S-Bahn networks across Germany. Their successors, the ET422 and ET430, are also great units, but I love (both of!) the motors sounds of the original.

 

[CC 72100]

MS61
Recently withdrawn Paris suburban units (RER A). Made the best noise ever from an EMU.

+1 - my regret is to not have got a video of one.. it was my daily commute for a good 9 months.

MI84s always triggered a sigh when they showed up. Grotty interiors, rough ride at the vehicle ends, and of course only 8 coaches.

 

[WestCoast]

Indeed, a terrible waste. They're still quite common in some areas though, for instance around Mühldorf as in my photo.

One more modern unit design I really like is the ET423, a very common sight on S-Bahn networks across Germany. Their successors, the ET422 and ET430, are also great units, but I love (both of!) the motors sounds of the original.

They're very generic but I love the feeling of acceleration on those units. I prefer the Munich S-Bahn to the Berlin S-Bahn probably for that reason.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

My best EMU (not) was this PR EN57, seen at Krakow Glowny, on which I travelled from Katowice.
An absolute boneshaker (on the few bits of track capable of 80kph).
The original "ironing board".
There are some nice modern units in the area though.

 

[class387]

+1 - my regret is to not have got a video of one.. it was my daily commute for a good 9 months.

MI84s always triggered a sigh when they showed up. Grotty interiors, rough ride at the vehicle ends, and of course only 8 coaches.

My regret is getting a video of one and then deleting it!

MI84s definitely should have been repalced first though. Deeply unfit for purpose.

 

[cactustwirly]

They're very generic but I love the feeling of acceleration on those units. I prefer the Munich S-Bahn to the Berlin S-Bahn probably for that reason.

Then you have their regional cousins as well, the BR425 & 426.

I quite like the BR420s and the Meridian Flirts (even though they have the so called "ironing boards")

 

[Harbornite]

Sadly there are no German TEE VT11.5 in operational condition despite a set operating into the 1990s

That's a shame, it would.have been nice to see one alongside a VT 18. By the way, do you think these look better in red and cream or blue and cream?

 

[Gordon]

G
The Be 4/4 sets on the RhB in Switzerland (technically push-pull sets I know!):

RhB Be 4/4 511 - Igis by Max's Rail Photos II, on Flickr

Why is a 511 'technically push pull" and 'not' an EMU?

In British parlance it is definitely an EMU, even if only one car is powered. Many 1st generation British DMU and EMU had only one powered car and one or more unpowered trailers.





.

 

[317666]

Why is a 511 'technically push pull" and 'not' an EMU?

In British parlance it is definitely an EMU, even if only one car is powered. Many 1st generation British DMU and EMU had only one powered car and one or more unpowered trailers.

They're classified as a power car (Be 4/4) and coaches rather than being classed as one unit, and as all the coaches are fitted with automatic couplers, power cars can swap sets or other coaches swapped around quite easily (I'm pretty sure they used to run as three cars on the Davos - Filisur some time ago, and last year I saw one set with a second driving trailer standing in for one of the middle coaches).

 

[Iskra]

I like these. There are still some sat in the sidings at Reggio Calabria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FS_Class_ETR_450#/media/File:ETR450.06.jpg

 

[EAD]

Then you have their regional cousins as well, the BR425 & 426.

I quite like the BR420s and the Meridian Flirts (even though they have the so called "ironing boards")

Glad someone brought up the ET/BR420s - the original S-Bahn workhorse with what now seems a very distinctive sound and for the time rapid acceleration.
http://www.fotocommunity.de/photo/ein-muenchner-im-himmel-maschinensetzer/27133344

 

[GospelOak117]

These are the Portuguese Railways (CP) class 3100. According to Wikipedia built in 1950 by Cravens Sheffield, and as far as I am aware they still monopolise the Lisbon to Cascais line, along the coast. I had quite a few rides on these about 3 years ago and would love to go back.
(Lisbon is a fantastic city for a short holiday too!)

https://en.rail.cc/cais-do-sodré-railway-station/lisbon/station/10954/1081

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The only multiple unit stock I've used on the continent is the vintage metre-gauge third-rail units on the Cerdagne line in French Catalonia (better known as Le petit train jaune.). I have no idea what class they are though!
All other European trains I've used (in Germany and Austria) were loco-hauled push-pull sets, even the commuter service from Soest (I boarded at Unna) to Dortmund Hbf.