Recordings of the last classic railcar series of the Rhaetian Railway ABe 4/4 III used according to the timetable on the Bernina line between Tirano and St Moritz. Recordings from the period 2023 to 2018.
The 6 railcars of the ABe 4/4 III series of the RhB operate as DC vehicles exclusively on the Bernina line between St. Moritz, Pontresina, Bernina, Alp Grüm, Poschiavo Tirano (Italy).
From 2023, they will only be used on the Bernina Express trains that run on the St.Moritz-Tirano DC section. The express trains to Chur are operated with modern dual-current multiple units.
The Bernina Express trains are not part of publicly funded passenger transport. Therefore, you do not have to meet the accessibility requirements like the regional transport on the Bernina line. The regional transport services are therefore planned to be run with the barrier-free Allegra ABe 8/12 railcars.
However, since not all Allegra railcars were available as planned in the summer of 2023, regional trains were again used.
The railcars with years of construction between 1988 and 1990 were built in 6 copies and designated with the operating numbers 51 to 56. They bear the following names or coats of arms: Corviglia, Diavolezza, Tirano, Brusio, Poschiavo and Hakone.
The railcars supplied by SWA and ABB in two series of three units each were the first RhB railcars to use converter technology with three-phase asynchronous motors. They were also among the first DC traction vehicles with GTO thyristors in the world. They have a top speed of 65 km/h, weigh 47 tons and, with an hourly output of 1016 kW, were the most powerful RhB DC multiple units when delivered. Their trailer load with a gradient of 70 per thousand is 90 or 95 tons, provided there are only four-axle vehicles in the train. They have 12 seats in first class and 16 in second class. Thanks to multiple control, they can drive with each other and also with the older ABe 4/4 II 41-49 and Gem 4/4 801-802 in double traction, which was used actively at the beginning.
00:00-04:53 Between Tirano (Italy) and Italian/Swiss state border
04:54-05:56 Campocologno (CH)
05:57-09:41 Brusio circular viaduct from various perspectives
09:42-15:16 between Brusio and Miralago
15:17-20:27 along the Lago di Poschiavo from Miralago to Le Prese and Li Curt
20:28-22:52 from Poschiavo to Cavaglia
22:53-24:54 Alp Grüm from various perspectives
24:55-35:55 Ospizio Bernina and along the Lago Bianco to Bernina Diavolezza
35:56-37:00 Bernina Suot
37:01-38:28 the Montebello curve near Morteratsch
38:29-39:01 from Surovas near Pontresina
39:02-42:53 between Pontresina and St Moritz