Jon WorthMulti modal trip to Pankow today for the launch of Stadler RS Zero
Ah. There’s a *ban* on photographing anything as the launch is in the work hall at Stadler Pankow. There are official photographers though 🤷♂️
4 years development process for the development of this #RSzero
Also central importance to Stadler’s Pankow works that now has 2000 workers, while it had less than 200 in 2001 when Stadler acquired it - and the predecessor RS1 was already in production
This #RSzero is an absolute Stadler masterclass. It starts with clear thinking. They’re so damned good on that point.
#RSzero will have 2 x 2 versions. 1 or 2 carriages. And battery electric or hydrogen versions.
I’m pretty sure most of the #RSzero will be battery electric (and ALL of them in Germany I’d wager) Only for huge distances is hydrogen possibly going to make any sense.
Stadler #RSzero
Just chatted to the manager of the whole project. This was developed at their own risk. But damn they know what they’re doing. They’ve built a very solid product that’ll work very well - in Germany first, and then likely in Czechia, perhaps Hungary, Netherlands
Best event I’ve been to in ages. Bright people with remarkable clarity of thinking, and skilled engineering too. Very impressive. And anyone who knows me knows I’m not inclined to hyperbole. #RSzero
Moritz Krähe@jon Do you know how a 2-car RS0 is substantially different from a 2-car FLIRT Akku?
@moritzkraehe Yes. It won’t have Jacobs Bogies. It’ll have steps in the middle. It’ll be vMax 120, not 140 or 160. It’ll likely be cheaper.
@jon So lighter axle load as well, probably? Cool!
Martin Hoffmann@moritzkraehe @jon Weirdly, Stadler seems to not publish weights any more.
@partim @moritzkraehe they stated today max axel load: 18t. So 72t max. Given 100 pax inc standees gives you 10t of passengers, that leaves you with a max unladen weight of c. 62t, versus c. 44t of a RS1.
@jon @moritzkraehe Makes me wonder whether the girder bridge design is more a gimick than actually saving weight.
(The short Lint is roughly the same weight as an RS1, so maybe it always was?)
@partim @moritzkraehe There was some Bombardier DMU in Sweden that also used that design, so there was some rationale to it. *How* much weight you save I don't know.
Suzanne ‘bionic’ Veerman@jon @partim @moritzkraehe the Itino and RegioShuttle used to be the same platform from ADtranz. When Daimler sold ADtranz to Bombardier, the Variobahn and RegioShuttle platform had to be sold because of competition rules. Stadler bought both, but the Itino remained at Bombardier. Only existing customers ordered more however, because Bombardier preferred that customers bought the Talent instead, before completely dropping their diesel train sets from their catalogue.
@smveerman Ah right, that explains it. Thanks! Which works built Itino do you know? @partim @moritzkraehe
@moritzkraehe yes, but not as good as the RS1. Esp the hydrogen one will be quite heavy.
Uwe@jon https://www.geo.de/zugfahren-in-europa--experte--schweiz-ist-bahn-vorzeigeland--balkan-faellt-ab-35018032.html
It seems you are not the only railway expert in Europe :-)
But at least the verdict is similar.
It seems you are not the only railway expert in Europe :-)
But at least the verdict is similar.
@zaubberermumpitz yes Seb is good!
Quixoticgeek@jon what's the bike space like?
@quixoticgeek 4 places here. In a 1 carriage train. But interior is modular - can add loads more if an operator wants to.
Roland Dieterich@jon Don't like how the seats are fastened with that diagonal bar in picture 2. Sure, it makes floor sweeping easier. But it also severly limits suitcases and folding bikes to be pushed under the seats.
@eigengott Disagree. Any seat design without a vertical bar has to have an angled bar like this. It’s still miles better than a vertical bar.
@jon Well, diagonal bars take up potential luggage space. Vertical bars leave a nice box shaped luggage space. 🤷
@eigengott having travelled a LOT with a folding bike: they never fit if there’s a vertical bar. Stadler’s diagonal bars are the best there is.
Apicultor 🐝@jon Are those seats as narrow as they look?
@apicultor no. They’re all right.
kadse 
@jon hmm, the shape of the seats looks a bit strange, hopefully they're comfy :o
@kadse they’re ok. They’re the same ones Siemens uses in regional trains. Good enough for an hour - but you’d not be on a train like this longer than an hour.
prosiac@jon It’s looking very nice but it won’t prevent rail companies to opt for cheap interiors anyway… Am i right ?
@bilginveperk Correct. Sadly.
geeeero@jon What are those things between the fold-away seats? Hooks? Levers?
@geeeero Hooks for bikes. Not convinced they’re solid enough. But apparently they were tested in Switzerland.
PepijnIf I am to spend 30 minutes on a train I want it to be this one. That interior looks like a perfect summer and winter commuter train.