Stadler KISS
Swiss bilevel commuter train
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Stadler KISS is a family of bilevel electric multiple unit commuter trains developed and built since 2008 by Stadler Rail of Switzerland. As of 2025, around 700 KISS trainsets have been sold to operators in 14 countries.[6] Boarding is done into the lower deck.
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- Switzerland: Altenrhein and Bussnang (Stadler Rail)
- Germany: Pankow, Berlin (Stadler Deutschland GmbH)
- Belarus: Fanipol (Stadler Rail Minsk)[a]
- Poland: Siedlce (Stadler Rail Polska)
- Spain: Valencia (Stadler Rail Valencia SAU)
- United States: Salt Lake City, Utah (Stadler US)
| Stadler KISS | |
|---|---|
Facelifted version in service with the Slovenian Railways near Škofja Loka, June 2023 | |
.jpg) Original version in service with the Zürich S-Bahn at Effretikon railway station, December 2014 | |
| In service | 2011–present |
| Manufacturer | Stadler Rail |
| Built at |
|
| Constructed | 2008– |
| Entered service | 2011 |
| Formation | EMUs: Up to 7 cars per train[2] DMUs: 8 cars per train[3] |
| Fleet numbers | RABe 511, RABe 512 (SBB), RABe 515 (BLS) |
| Capacity | First class: 112 Second class: 414 |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium[2] |
| Car length | 25 m (82 ft 1⁄4 in)[2] |
| Width | 2.8 m (9 ft 2+1⁄4 in)[2] (2.92 m (9 ft 7 in) for Sweden[4] 3.4 m (11 ft 1+7⁄8 in) for Russia[5]) |
| Height | 4.595 m (15 ft 7⁄8 in)[2] (4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) for Sweden[4] 5.24 m (17 ft 2+1⁄4 in) for Russia[5]) |
| Floor height | 440 mm (17 in)[2] |
| Entry | 570 mm (22 in)[2] |
| Maximum speed | 160–200 km/h (100–125 mph)[2] |
| Weight | 296 t (291 long tons; 326 short tons) (6 car train)[2] |
| Power output | 6,000 kW (8,000 hp) Max 4,000 kW (5,400 hp) Cont |
| Acceleration | 1.1 m/s2 (3.6 ft/s2)[2] |
| Electric systems | |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | |
Name
In the early stages of its development, the KISS was known as the Stadler DOSTO. This name was derived from the German word Doppelstock, meaning "double decker". This is still the name used for the Swedish market because "kiss" means "pee" in Swedish.
Since September 2010, Stadler refers to the train as "KISS", an acronym for "Komfortabler Innovativer Spurtstarker S-Bahn-Zug", meaning "comfortable, innovative, sprint-capable suburban train".[7]
In Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) service, the train is classified as RABe 511, while a newer version for regional services is classified as RABe 512. BLS classifies them as RABe 515. For the Eastern European market (specifically in Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan), it is branded Eurasia.
Naming of RABe 511 trains
A total of 93 RABe 511 trainsets (69 six-car/24 four-car units) were delivered to Swiss Federal Railways, numbered 511 001–511 093, some for use on the long-distance IR or RE lines (red-white-grey livery)[8] and others on the Zurich S-Bahn network (red-white-blue livery) in the Zurich metropolitan area.[9]
In Switzerland, it is common practice to name electric multiple units (e.g. SBB RABe 501, RABDe 500, RABe 514, SOB RABe 526, BLS RABe 515) and locomotives (e.g. SBB Ae 6/6, Re 6/6, Re 450, Re 460). Fourteen RABe 511 trainsets are named, mostly after Swiss communes or cantons with the name and respective coat of arms (COA) indicated at both ends of the trainset. The table below lists all named RABe 511 with their respective number (№). Trainsets of Zurich S-Bahn are indicated with an *:[10]
| Named SBB RABe 511 units | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | COA | Name | № | COA | Name | № | COA | Name | ||
| 511 001* |  | Berlin | 511 016 |  | Kanton Luzern | 511 033* |  | Winterthur | ||
| 511 002* |  | Stadt Zürich | 511 017 |  | Kanton Schaffhausen | 511 048* |  | Rapperswil-Jona | ||
| 511 010* |  | Urdorf | 511 022 | .svg){kind=small} | Kanton St. Gallen | 511 059 | — | Pünten[b] | ||
| 511 011* |  | Dietikon | 511 023 |  | Kanton Graubünden | 511 067 |  | Zell ZH | ||
| 511 014* |  | Wettingen | 511 031 |  | Bezirk Affoltern | |||||
Features
The KISS family was created as the third generation of vehicles for the Zürich S-Bahn. Compared to previous generations, they are characterized mainly by a higher number of standing passengers per car, in part because the longer trains have proportionately fewer seats. The trains are 15 cm (5.9 in) wider due to placing the HVAC channels under the ceiling instead of behind side panels. The headroom is still two meters, because friction stir welded floor panels made from aluminium extrusions are used. The number of seats, however, is slightly lower than in the previous models. Like in the KISS's predecessors, low-floor entrances, vehicle air conditioning and vacuum toilets (two, including one wheelchair accessible) are available. There are also two multi-functional areas with storage space for strollers, bicycles and the like.
The six-car train set consists of two head power cars and four intermediate trailers. In the power heads, all axles are powered. The "Eurasia" version for the Russian gauge railways, in a six and four-car formation, has two trailer heads and two shorter intermediate power cars, and also two intermediate trailers in a six car formation.[5] A special diesel-electric version of the "Eurasia" train, which first appeared in 2021, is manufactured in an eight-car formation, including 2 double-deck head cars, 2 diesel generator cars, 3 intermediate double-deck cars and 1 single-deck car.[3][11][12]
Iberian gauge KISS vehicles (labelled "T100" and "T200") ordered by Renfe in Spain are currently being tested,[13] which will feature a combination of single-deck FLIRT end cars joined by either two double-decker KISS intermediate cars or with two extra single-deck FLIRT intermediate cars.[14] Despite an original 2025 production timeline, as of January 2026, such trainsets have yet to enter service.[15]
Customers
| Year of order | Year of service | Customer | Country | No. of trainsets | No. of cars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2012 | Swiss Federal Railways | Switzerland | 50 | For use on the Zürich S-Bahn[16] | |
| 2010 | 2012 | BLS AG | Switzerland | 28 | 4 | BLS RABe 515; for use on the Bern S-Bahn[17] |
| 2010 | 2012 | Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn | Germany | 16 | 4 | For regional lines in Berlin/ Brandenburg/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern[18] |
| 2010 | 2011 | WESTbahn (later Deutsche Bahn) | Austria | 7 | 6 | For service between Vienna and Salzburg.[18] To be transferred to DB Fernverkehr |
| 2010 | 2012 | Swiss Federal Railways | Switzerland | 24 | For use on regional express lines[19][20] | |
| 2010 | 2014 | CFL | Luxembourg | 19 | 3 | For service between Luxembourg and Koblenz, Luxembourg and Trier and Luxembourg and Düsseldorf [21] |
| 2013 | 2015 | Westfalenbahn | Germany | 13 | 6 | For regional lines in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony[22] |
| 2013 | 2016 | Aeroexpress | Russia | 11[23] | 4 or 6 | For the Moscow airport shuttle service[24][23] as ESh2 "Eurasia" |
| 2015 | Azerbaijan Railways | Azerbaijan | 5[25][23] | 4 | Labelled as EŞ2 "Eurasia"[23] | |
| 2015 | 2017 | BLS AG | Switzerland | 3 | 4 | BLS RABe 515; for use on the Bern S-Bahn[26] |
| 2015 | 2016 | Swiss Federal Railways | Switzerland | 19 | For use on the Zürich S-Bahn[27] | |
| 2015 | 2017 | WESTbahn (later Deutsche Bahn) | Austria | 9 1 | 4 6 | For service between Vienna and Salzburg[28] Sold to Deutsche Bahn in 2020 for use as IC2 intercity trains on the Dresden–Berlin–Rostock line.[29] |
| 2016 | Georgian Railways | Georgia | 4[23] | 4 | Labelled as GRS "Eurasia"[23] | |
| 2016 | 2019 | Mälardalstrafik (leased from Transitio) | Sweden | 33 | 4 | For use in the Mälaren Valley. Max speed 200 km/h. Designated as ER1.[30] |
| 2016 | 11 August 2024[31] | Caltrain | United States | 23
1 |
7 4 | Part of the Caltrain Modernization Program. As of August 2023, 161 cars (23 7-car sets), plus one 4 car bi-level BEMU for use between Tamien and Gilroy, with 55 options remaining.[32][33] |
| 2017 | 2019 | Kollektivtrafikförvaltningen UL (later Mälardalstrafik; leased from Transitio) | Sweden | 8 | 4 | For the "Upptåget" service between Uppsala-Gävle.[34] |
| 2017 | 15 March 2020 | MÁV-Start | Hungary | 40 (19+21) | 6 | The first vehicle may enter service in the second quarter of 2020, the last of which will begin in early 2021[35] |
| 2018 | 2020 | BLS AG | Switzerland | 8 | 4–6 | BLS RABe 515; for use on long-distance routes[36] |
| 2018 | 2022[37] | Slovenske železnice | Slovenia | 10[37] | 3 | SŽ class 313/318[37] |
| 2019 | 2021 | WESTbahn | Austria | 15 | 6 | For service between Vienna and Salzburg. Replace for trainsets sold to DB |
| 2021 | 2021 | Azerbaijan Railways | Azerbaijan | 1[3] | 8 | Special DMU for railway administration officials. Labelled as DŞ2 "Eurasia"[3] |
| 2021 | 19 March 2022 | Srbija Voz | Serbia | 3 | 4 | ŽS 410. For 200 km/h service between Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica on high-speed "Soko" intercity services. |
| 2021[38] | 15 February 2024[39] | Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko | Slovakia | 4[38] | 6 | For service on lines Bratislava–Trenčín and Bratislava–Nové Zámky. 4th unit delivery delayed till November 2024 due to an accident on Velim test centre.[39] |
| 2021 | 17 July 2023[40] | Swiss Federal Railways | Switzerland | 60 | 6 | In ordering them, Swiss Federal Railways exercised options from previous orders. They were first rolled out on the Zurich-Schaffhausen route, and are planned to be spread to other routes in Switzerland, generally centring on Zurich or Lausanne, gradually between 2024 and 2027.[41] |
| 2021 | 2025 (planned) | Renfe (Cercanías division) | Spain | 79 | 24 100m trains and 55 200m trains (Renfe Class 453), for Cercanías Madrid and Rodalies de Catalunya.[42][43] | |
| 2019[44] | 2022[44] | Deutsche Bahn | Germany | 18 | Trainsets purchased for DB Regio | |
| 2021 | 2023 | Tåg i Bergslagen (leased from Transitio) | Sweden | 14 | 4 | For service between Ludvika and Västerås and other routes in the Bergslagen region. |
| 2022
2023 |
2026 (planned) | ÖBB | Austria | 20+42
13 |
4/6
6 |
20 four-car sets + 42 six-car sets: 160 km/h for Vienna ÖBB Regional and City Airport Train; 13 six-car Railjet: 200 km/h[45] |
| 2024 | 2026 (planned) | BDŽ | Bulgaria | 7+3 | 160 km/h[46] |
See also
- List of stock used by Swiss Federal Railways
- Bombardier Omneo
- SBB-CFF-FFS RABe 514 (Siemens Desiro)
- SJ X40 (Alstom Coradia)
- ČD Class 471 (CityElefant)
- UZ Class 675 (Škoda EJ 675)
Notes
- Production relocated to Siedlce following the Russian invasion of Ukraine[1]
- Pünte is the local name for an allotment garden in the city of Winterthur, Switzerland.
