SNCF Class Z 50000

Z 50000
A pair of Z 50000 trainsets in the older livery (left) and the STIF/ÎdFM livery (right)
In service	2009-present
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Built at	Crespin
Replaced	BB 17000 RIB Z 6400 VB2N Z20500
Entered service	14 December 2009
Number under construction	360 trainsets[1]
Number in service	305 trainsets (as of 25 April 2021)
Formation	7 or 8 cars per trainset 134 trainsets with 7 cars 143 trainsets with 8 cars (all as of July 2020)
Capacity	Seated: 405† / 503* Standing: 468† / 552* (at 4 per square metre)
Operator(s)	SNCF
Depot(s)	Technicentre Paris Nord Technicentre Paris Est Levallois Argenteuil
Line(s) served
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Train length	94.3 m (309 ft 5 in)† 112.5 m (369 ft 1 in)*
Car length	16.53 m (54 ft 3 in) (end car) 13.24 m (43 ft 5 in) (intermediate cars)
Width	3.06 m (10.0 ft)
Height	4.28 m (14 ft 1 in)
Entry	985 mm (38.8 in)
Doors	1,950 m (6,397 ft 8 in)
Wheel diameter	840 mm (33.07 in)
Wheelbase	1.9 m (75 in)
Maximum speed	140 km/h (87 mph)
Weight	210,000 kg (460,000 lb)† 240,000 kg (530,000 lb)*
Traction system	Bombardier MITRAC IGBT-VVVF
Traction motors	3-phase AC asynchronous bi-motors
Power output	2,950 kW (3,960 hp)* (2,620 kW (3,510 hp) continuous)
Acceleration	1 m/s2 (3.3 ft/s2) (0 to 50 km/h or 0 to 31 mph)*
Deceleration	1.05 m/s2 (3.4 ft/s2)* (service brakes)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC or 25 kV 50 Hz AC, both from overhead catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph Type AX
Bogies	FLEXX Compact
Braking system(s)	Disc, dynamic and regenerative
Safety system(s)	Crocodile and KVB
Coupling system	Scharfenberg type
Multiple working	Z 50000
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes
† Seven car train, * Eight car train Sources:[2][3][4]

The SNCF Class Z 50000 (Technical Name), also known as the 'Francilian' (Operating Name), or 'NAT' (Project Name for French: Nouvelle Automotrice Transilien, English: New Rail car Transilien) is a type of dual-voltage electric multiple unit trainset designed in the 2000s. It is commuter rail system serving Paris and its Île-de-France suburbs on the Transilien network. Departing stations are Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est and Gare Saint-Lazare.

A total of 360 trainsets have either been built or are under construction by Canadian conglomerate Bombardier at its Crespin, France (near Valenciennes) factory since 2006. The first set was placed into regular passenger service on 14 December 2009.

The name Francilien is also the demonym for people living in Île-de-France.

History[]

In 2004, the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF, the transit authority for the Paris region until June 2017) began the tendering process for approximately 180 new electric multiple unit trainsets to replace SNCF's aging single-deck suburban fleet, including trainsets nicknamed “inox” (short for inoxydable, English: stainless [steel]) (Classes Z 5300, , Z 6400) and similar push-pull trainsets known as RIB ( [fr]) and RIO ( [fr]). The SNCF and STIF requested bids for a train design that could operate on a typical journey of 30 to 50 kilometres (19 to 31 miles) in length, including numerous stops lasting 30 to 40 seconds, and able to operate from either 1.5 kV DC or 25 kV AC overhead catenary electrification.^[5]

Alstom, Bombardier, and Siemens all submitted bids for the project.^[6] In 2006, SNCF (French Railway Company) and Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF, the transit authority for the Paris region until June 2017) awarded the contract to Bombardier with a firm order for 172 ‘Francilien’ trainsets at a cost of €1.85 billion, with an option for 200 more.^[2][3]

Bombardier presented the vehicle at Crespin on 6 February 2009.^[7] The first service operated by a Francilien train was on Transilien Line H from Paris Gare du Nord to Luzarches on Sunday 13 December 2009.^[8] As of December 2018, 360 trainsets had been ordered, and about 240 were in active service.^[9]

Design[]

Bombardier vehicle design is articulated using Jakobs bogies between the carriages. Seating is in a 3+2 layout giving over 400 seats in a seven-car unit, over 500 in an eight-car set. Total capacity exceeds 800 (or 1,000 in eight-car trains) including standing passengers at 4 per square metre (3.3/sq yd). The vehicle's width is 3.06 metres (10.0 ft), which is wider than previous trains, achieved by having a relatively short car length of 13.24 metres (43 ft 5 in).^[5][4] The inter-carriage passages have wide, open gangway connections, limiting bottlenecking.^[4] All interior lights are provided by light-emitting diodes (LED), so power consumption is lessened.^[5]

Photo gallery[]

• 

  Interior, showing 3+2 seating

• 

  Interior, showing open gangway connection

• 

  Gap filler allowing easy access for wheelchair users

• 

  SIVE dynamic passenger information screens

• 

  Operator's cab

• 

  Z 50000 in the new Île-de-France Mobilités livery on Transilien Line H at Bessancourt station

• 

  Z 50000 in the older Carmillon livery on Transilien Line L at Cergy-Saint-Christophe station

See also[]

• List of SNCF classes

References[]

Literature[]

• "De la NAT au Francilien : la genèse d'un projet mené tambour battant", (in French) (153), pp. 46–65, July 2010, ISSN 1261-3665
• "Ввод в обращение - первых поездов Francilien" (PDF), Железные дороги мира (in Russian) (4), pp. 32–37, 2010^{[permanent dead link]}
• Jackson, C (2010), Railway Gazette International (2), pp. 55–58 Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Пригородный - электропоезд новой концепции (PDF), Железные дороги мира (in Russian) (10), pp. 36–8, 2007^{[permanent dead link]}
• Hughes, M. (2007), Railway Gazette International (9), p. 574 Missing or empty |title= (help)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SNCF Class Z 50000.