Catch them before they're gone

[Giugiaro]

UIC-Z coaches with FIAT type international bogeys can easily have their bogeys swapped, as long as there are surplus bogeys for the intended gauge. Spain has GC bogeys, France used Y21 and Portugal Y21P.

Spain did use leased Corail type VTU coaches from SNCF for a limited amount of time. Couchette Corail VT coaches travelled all the way from Paris to Lisbon back in the day.

The anti-sway dampers on these bogies are attached to the bogie’s swing beam to facilitate bogie swapping at the border between Spain and France, as well as between Western Europe and the former Soviet Union.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

The information given here does not conflict with what I said, Renfe could be responsible for funding the acquisition of the stock. Remember, they acquired 72x carriages formerly with NS and 50x carriages formerly with DB.

Confirmation that Leo Express will use ex-DB carriages owned by RENFE.

Renfe acquires passenger coaches from DB to lease them to Leo Express

They have a top speed of 200 km/h.

www.trenvista.net

Renfe Alquiler de Material Ferroviario (RAMF) has signed a 15-year agreement with Leo Express for the lease of RIC-compliant passenger coaches approved for operation across Europe. This deal enables the Czech operator to strengthen its cross-border services and its presence in both PSO contracts and open-access markets.

The coaches were purchased by Renfe Alquiler de Material Ferroviario from Deutsche Bahn and mark Renfe’s first acquisition of conventional loco-hauled rolling stock since the 1980s.

Part of this fleet will be deployed on the recently awarded Ex36 contract, which allows Leo Express to operate the Prague–Munich service from December 2026.

The Ex36 contract, tendered by the Czech Ministry of Transport, provides for eight daily services on the 439-kilometre Prague–Plzeň–Munich corridor, running every two hours over a five-year term.

The Renfe Alquiler coaches, offering both first and second class, are cleared for 200 km/h and provide up to 80 seats per vehicle, as well as air-conditioning, on-board connectivity and a coach adapted for passengers with reduced mobility.

This deal comes on top of the 10-year lease of Talgo VI sets to Leo Express, which are due to enter traffic in 2026 on new international routes linking, among others, Prague and Bratislava. In this way, Renfe Alquiler consolidates its role as a strategic lever within the group for internationalisation and for maximising the return on its assets in Central Europe.

 

[BRX]

So the coaches never actually go to or return from Spain... they are simply owned by Renfe.

 

[AdamWW]

So the coaches never actually go to or return from Spain... they are simply owned by Renfe.

Fascinating world we live in....

 

[AY1975]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned upthread but is there any Belgian hauled stock dating from the 1970s or 80s still in service?

 

[D6130]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned upthread but is there any Belgian hauled stock dating from the 1970s or 80s still in service?

I don't think so. I believe that the last M4 stock - dating from the early 1980s - has just been withdrawn.

 

[eastwestdivide]

The site beluxtrains has a few current workings for double deck M5 coaches, dating from the mid-1980s according to wiki.

https://www.beluxtrains.net/fr/index.php?page=listing&action=3&number=&category=&station=&company=&vehicle1=M5&vehicle2=&vehicle3=&country=BE&days=&year=2026&period=

also a few workings for I6 coaches, dating from the late 1970s

https://www.beluxtrains.net/fr/index.php?page=listing&action=3&number=&category=&station=&company=&vehicle1=I6&vehicle2=&vehicle3=&country=BE&days=&year=2026&period=

 

[DesDobramento]

In the Netherlands it seems an old relic is making a comeback. Rumours have been going around for some weeks but the local news now confirms the plans for a Mat'64 unit to be put back into service between Amersfoort and Barneveld while the current fleet undergoes modernisation. The trainset, built in 1973, is only scheduled to run 2 round trips during the morning peak though as it has no level boarding so it's usage will be kept to the bare minimum. A start date has not been confirmed yet. So catch it before it's gone....again.

No sign of this in service on the Barneveld line on 20 April 2026

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Apr 2026 ==

looks like IC's fully go from Westerland May 1st, with ICE-L's taking over from then on
the Loco change still happens at Itzehoe but from one Vectron (193 for 230km/h) to another (248.5 bi mode but limited to 160km/h)

The early-afternoon Hamburg/Westerland on Sunday 19 April 2026 was an ICE L Talgo, train renumbered as ICE2374 - previously IC2374 and a loco-worked service on the previous day (218497 north of Itzehoe). IC2311 Westerland/Koln (early afternoon through Hamburg) remained loco-hauled on Sunday 19 April.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned upthread but is there any Belgian hauled stock dating from the 1970s or 80s still in service?

Yes, Go Volta uses I10 stock from the 1980s

 

[AdamWW]

Yes, Go Volta uses I10 stock from the 1980s

Though not in Belgium.

 

[Austriantrain]

I am not sure if it was mentioned before:

The remaining class 4020 sets in and around Vienna will likely be gone by the end of the year, maybe even by summer.

The last services by class 4020 have now been announced for the beginning of July.

 

[DanielB]

No sign of this in service on the Barneveld line on 20 April 2026

Probably just bad luck: this morning a shunting train broke down in the middle of the points giving access to Bokkeduinen yard in Amersfoort, blocking traffic towards Utrecht and the yard itself.
So likely the Plan V was stuck on the yard.

 

[DesDobramento]

Probably just bad luck: this morning a shunting train broke down in the middle of the points giving access to Bokkeduinen yard in Amersfoort, blocking traffic towards Utrecht and the yard itself.
So likely the Plan V was stuck on the yard.

A full normal service was running on the Valleilijn this morning but no Plan V!!!!

 

[DanielB]

The Plan V however comes off the yard later in the morning peak normally.
They can run the full timetable with the trains starting early morning, but at peak rush hour two trains are coupled and the Plan V then fills the gap. So would the Plan V be stuck (or be the train that broke down) you wouldn't notice it by trains being cancelled, but more by trains being shorter.

Besides that this week is an optional school holiday week, so that could also have caused the Plan V not being running (as the single trainsets are sufficient).

 

[DesDobramento]

The Plan V however comes off the yard later in the morning peak normally.
They can run the full timetable with the trains starting early morning, but at peak rush hour two trains are coupled and the Plan V then fills the gap. So would the Plan V be stuck (or be the train that broke down) you wouldn't notice it by trains being cancelled, but more by trains being shorter.

Besides that this week is an optional school holiday week, so that could also have caused the Plan V not being running (as the single trainsets are sufficient).

Please excuse the further questions!
Does the Plan V normally work the 0655 and 0755 round trips from Amersfoort?
Presumably it has no further scheduled trips?
Is there a ‘tracker’ for the Netherlands showing the allocation of units to trains?

 

[Bemined]

Plan V is still planned, but the operator does not provide live changes to the rolling stock planning so the only way to be sure is to go see it or check the webcam. Earlier this month is was still running, last week the Plan V was sighted being pulled by another classic train (the 'Motorpost') so perhaps it had a malfunction and is awaiting repairs.

 

[DesDobramento]

Plan V is still planned, but the operator does not provide live changes to the rolling stock planning so the only way to be sure is to go see it or check the webcam. Earlier this month is was still running, last week the Plan V was sighted being pulled by another classic train (the 'Motorpost') so perhaps it had a malfunction and is awaiting repairs.

Thanks for the webcam advice!

Assuming the ‘Motorpost’ is the single-car ex-postal vehicle, it was lurking in the sidings west and north of Amersfoort on the evening of 19 April, whilst the distinctive ‘nose‘ of the PlanV was at the buffer-stops end of a central siding in the Keolis depot on the opposite side of the line, further to the west.

Another PlanV (766) in green observed in the carriage sidings north of Maastricht station 20/4/2026.

 

[DanielB]

Another PlanV (766) in green observed in the carriage sidings north of Maastricht station 20/4/2026.

766 isn't a Plan V however, that's a Mat'54. So one generation older (and four car, whilst all Plan V are two car sets)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Have the final ÖBB 4020s gone yet? Hated those when in Vienna in 2018 and 2022. Found the Desiros much, much nicer.

 

[mountainpixel]

Have the final ÖBB 4020s gone yet? Hated those when in Vienna in 2018 and 2022. Found the Desiros much, much nicer.

They are still running, I've just seen them in St. Pölten this week. But are to be replaced this summer!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The last services by class 4020 have now been announced for the beginning of July.

Oh sorry I didn't see this! About time.

 

[Austriantrain]

Have the final ÖBB 4020s gone yet? Hated those when in Vienna in 2018 and 2022. Found the Desiros much, much nicer.

Not surprising, there is a 40 year age difference between the two…

The 4020 have provided excellent and reliable service for many years and were quite well suited for the services they were conceived for, but obviously have been outdated for quite a while. The introduction of the new Stadler KISS 4734/4736 enables a cascade where all 4020 can finally be replaced. 3rd July is said to be their last day in service.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not surprising, there is a 40 year age difference between the two…

The 4020 have provided excellent and reliable service for many years and were quite well suited for the services they were conceived for, but obviously have been outdated for quite a while. The introduction of the new Stadler KISS 4734/4736 enables a cascade where all 4020 can finally be replaced. 3rd July is said to be their last day in service.

It's those bench-like seats with about a foot size gap between the back rest and the head rest!

 

[matt]

Not surprising, there is a 40 year age difference between the two…

The 4020 have provided excellent and reliable service for many years and were quite well suited for the services they were conceived for, but obviously have been outdated for quite a while. The introduction of the new Stadler KISS 4734/4736 enables a cascade where all 4020 can finally be replaced. 3rd July is said to be their last day in service.

I'm in Vienna on the 3rd. Do you know what services they are likely to work?

 

[Amalie]

Thanks for the webcam advice!

Assuming the ‘Motorpost’ is the single-car ex-postal vehicle, it was lurking in the sidings west and north of Amersfoort on the evening of 19 April, whilst the distinctive ‘nose‘ of the PlanV was at the buffer-stops end of a central siding in the Keolis depot on the opposite side of the line, further to the west.

Another PlanV (766) in green observed in the carriage sidings north of Maastricht station 20/4/2026.

There’s a number of old ex-NS multiple units (Plan V/Hondekop/etc.) owned by various museum organisations you might see around doing special trips. The Valleilijn one is the only one that is used for a normal regular service however, but they won’t completely disappear from the tracks anytime soon!

 

[AY1975]

also a few workings for I6 coaches, dating from the late 1970s

https://www.beluxtrains.net/fr/index.php?page=listing&action=3&number=&category=&station=&company=&vehicle1=I6&vehicle2=&vehicle3=&country=BE&days=&year=2026&period=

That site shows those trains to be formed of a mixture of I11, I6 and I10 stock.

The two I6 coaches in the formations both appear to have a yellow stripe for 1st class.

Does anyone know if any of the remaining SNCF Corail services (apart from night trains) mentioned upthread still have any compartment coaches?

If not, I would guess that there are now no 2nd class compartments in hauled stock on daytime trains anywhere in western Europe. In that case the German ICEs that have compartments in both classes would presumably be the only 2nd class compartments left, and either the few remaining Belgian I6s or the few remaining German IC trains formed of IC1 stock have the last remaining 1st class compartments on hauled stock used on daytime trains in western Europe.

Compartments are still quite common (in both classes) in some central and eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic, though.

 

[Austriantrain]

I'm in Vienna on the 3rd. Do you know what services they are likely to work?

They are most easily to be found on the S40 services (normally from Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, currently from Heiligenstadt only), where currently a significant portion of trains use them (if you look up the online timetable, it's the trains that are not marked with an "accessability" wheelchair symbol). There are also always some on the S-Bahn core, but mostly, as far as I know, on a day-to-day replacement basis for unavailable other sets, so not easily planned, and not frequent either.

No guarantee for July 3 either - it's the last day of school and also before several summer closures start (so less trainsets needed), but I believe they will be replaced as early as possible.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2026 ==

It's those bench-like seats with about a foot size gap between the back rest and the head rest!

I don't disagree, but they were built for short-distance traffic on a busy network. Austria being Austria, they ended up running elsewhere too of course, without any change to the interior.

 

[Tester]

That site shows those trains to be formed of a mixture of I11, I6 and I10 stock.

The two I6 coaches in the formations both appear to have a yellow stripe for 1st class.

Does anyone know if any of the remaining SNCF Corail services (apart from night trains) mentioned upthread still have any compartment coaches?

If not, I would guess that there are now no 2nd class compartments in hauled stock on daytime trains anywhere in western Europe. In that case the German ICEs that have compartments in both classes would presumably be the only 2nd class compartments left, and either the few remaining Belgian I6s or the few remaining German IC trains formed of IC1 stock have the last remaining 1st class compartments on hauled stock used on daytime trains in western Europe.

Compartments are still quite common (in both classes) in some central and eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic, though.

Unless things have changed recently, SNCF Corail compartment coaches (typically a BSK - with part guard/luggage accommodation) are not uncommon on hauled TER services in the Lyon-Geneva area. I certainly used them last summer.

 

[D1511]

I'm heading to the Netherlands on 11th June for a few days. Does anyone know if the plan V will still be out then, please?

 

[DanielB]

It should be, the revision of the first Protos is severely delayed, when it hasn't broken down at least.
June is also early enough as I don't think its likely to run in a holiday timetable.