Belgian Railways Class 96

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SNCB AM96 / NMBS MS96
Antwerpen-Berchem NMBS 467 IC 2613 naar Hasselt (16957199940).jpg
Two Class 96 units at Antwerpen-Berchem
MS96 Interior second class.JPG
Second class interior
In service1996–present
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atBruges, Belgium[1]
Constructed1996
Number built120
FormationBx + B + ADx
Fleet numbers441–490 (dual-voltage),
501–570 (DC-only)
Capacity168 second class, 45 first class, 213 total
Operator(s)NMBS/SNCB
Specifications
Car length26,400 mm (86 ft 7 in)
Width2,860 mm (9 ft 5 in)[2]
Maximum speed160 km/h (100 mph)
Traction system441–490: 3 kV DC; 25 kV AC
501–570: 3 kV DC
Power output1,400 hp (1,000 kW)
UIC classificationBo'Bo' + 2'2' + 2'2'
Safety system(s), TBL 1+, KVB
Coupling systemScharfenberg coupler
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

The class 96 (MS96 in Dutch, AM96 in French) is an electric multiple unit constructed in 1996[2] for the National Railway Company of Belgium.

They incorporate features from the DSB IC3 trainsets in order to enable passage from one set coach to another. When two or more units are coupled together in a single train, the entire front door folds away to give a wide passage, and the rubber diaphragms at the ends form a flush aerodynamic seal.

Gallery[]

  • Front end of the train.

  • NMBS/SNCB train approaching Gare de Lille Flandres.

  • Two sets coupled in Gare de Lille Flandres.

Interior[]

  • Second class interior

  • First class interior

  • First class interior

Accidents and incidents[]

Main article: Hermalle-sous-Huy train collision
  • On 5 June 2016, two units forming a passenger train were involved in a rear-end collision with a freight train at . Three people were killed and about 40 were injured.[3] Unit 548 was at the front of the train,[4] unit 461 was at the rear of the train.[5]
Main article: Morlanwelz train collision and runaway
  • On 27 November 2017, Unit 449 collided with a car on a level crossing at Morlanwelz and was damaged by the consequent fire. It was the leading unit of a train formed of units 449 and 442. During recovery operations, the unit broke free from the train and ran away, killing two people and seriously injuring two more. After travelling for 14 kilometres (8.7 mi), it collided at Strépy-Bracquegnies with a passenger train operated by two Class 96s including unit 483. Five people were injured in that collision.

References[]

  1. ^ De Neef, David. "News on the SNCB/NMBS". Belgian Railways Unofficial website.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Electric Multiple AM96 – Belgium". Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Grave accident de trains à Saint-Georges: 3 morts, 9 blessés et " une scène abominable "" [Serious train accident in Saint-Georges: 3 dead, 9 wounded and "an abominable scene"] (in French). L'Avenir. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Rapport intermédiaire d'Enquête de Sécurité. Collision par rattrapage d'un train de marchandises par un train de voyageurs survenue à Hermalle-sous-Huy le 5 juin 2016" [Interim Safety Investigation Report. Rear-end collision between a freight tran and a passenger train at Hermalle-sous-Huy on 5 June 2016] (PDF) (in French). RAIIU Belgium. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  5. ^ Hartley-Parkinson, Richard. "Three dead and 40 injured after train crashes into back of freight train". Metro. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
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