SNCF Class Z 50000

Constructed2009–2022Entered service14 December 2009Number built360 trainsets^[1]Number in service360 trainsets (as of 2 December 2022) (2686 cars)Formation7 or 8 cars per trainset
194 trainsets with 7 cars
166 trainsets with 8 cars
(all as of 2 December 2022)Fleet numbersZ 50001/2–50719/720CapacityOperatorsSNCFDepotsLines served       SpecificationsCar body constructionStainless steelTrain lengthCar lengthWidth3.06 m (10 ft 0 in)Height4.28 m (14 ft 1 in)Floor height985 mm (38.8 in)Wheel diameter840 mm (33.07 in)Wheelbase1,900 mm (75 in)Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph)WeightTraction systemBombardier MITRAC IGBT–VVVFTraction motors10 × 262 kW (351 hp) 3-phase AC induction motorPower output2,620 kW (3,513 hp)Acceleration1 m/s² (2.2 mph/s) (up to 50 km/h (31 mph))^[b]Deceleration1.05 m/s² (2.3 mph/s)^[b] (service)Electric system(s)Current collector(s)Pantograph Type AXUIC classificationBogiesFLEXX Compact (jacobs)Braking system(s)Disc, dynamic and regenerativeSafety system(s)Crocodile and KVBCoupling systemScharfenberg typeMultiple workingZ 50000Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gaugeNotes/references^[2][3][4]

The SNCF Class Z 50000, also known as the 'Francilian', or 'NAT' (for French: Nouvelle Automotrice Transilien, English: New Rail car Transilien, the project name) 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 6100, Z 6400) and similar push-pull trainsets known as RIB (Rame inox de banlieue [fr]) and RIO (Rame inox omnibus [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 1,500 V DC or 25 kV 50 Hz 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 Spacium 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 ft 0 in), 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] Technical details: SPACIUM Environmental Product Description.^[10]

Technical characteristics

The dual-current capacity (1,500 volts DC and 25,000 volts AC) enables the train to serve the entire Ile-de-France network. Its electrical consumption is 20% lower than that of equipment in circulation in 2009. The two traction motors per bogie are of the three-phase asynchronous type; they operate at a voltage of 380 volts - 50 hertz. The motorization is distributed over five motor bogies, located at each end, in line with the driving cabs, and between cars 2 and 3, 3 and 4 and 6 and 7 (in the long version) or 5 and 6 (in the short).

A train is divided into two distinct sets of traction chain, cars 1 to 4 on the one hand and cars 6 to 8 on the other hand. Each of these half-elements has two traction chains in parallel, redundancy which reduces the risk of unavailability in the event of a breakdown. The Z 50000 are distinguished by another specific feature: in normal operation, only 80% of the available power, or 2,950 kW (3,960 hp) for one element, is used. In the event of failure of one of the engine blocks, the other engines are actuated at 100% in order to ensure the normal operation of the train.

The acceleration reaches 0.9 m/s² (2.0 mph/s) for the eight-cell configuration and 1 m/s² (2.2 mph/s) for the seven-cell configuration. The deceleration reaches −1.05 m/s² (−2.3 mph/s) during service braking.

Formations

As of 1 March 2022, 339 Z50000 trainsets (01H to 346L).

8 cars sets

The 8-cars trainsets are formed as shown below, with five motorised cars and three non-powered trailer cars (5M3T) more precisely with 5 motorized bogies jacobs and 4 trailer bogies.

They are based at the Noisy le Sec (Line E and P), and les Joncherolles /St Denis (Line H and K) depot.

RER E	<- Haussman - St Lazare / Paris Tournan / Chelles ->
Car No.	1	> 2	3	4	5	6	7 <	8
Type	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised		Trailer	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised
Numbering	Z50xxx(odd number)	ZR501xxx (odd number)	ZZ502xxx (odd number)	ZR503xxx(odd number)	ZR504xxx (odd number)	ZR505xxx (odd number)	ZR506xxx (odd number)	Z50xxx (even number)

Line H	<-Paris Nord Pontoise / Luzarches/ Creil ->
Car No.	1	> 2	3	4	5	6	7 <	8
Type	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised		Trailer	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised
Numbering	Z50xxx(odd number)	ZR501xxx (odd number)	ZZ502xxx (odd number)	ZR503xxx(odd number)	ZR504xxx (odd number)	ZR505xxx (odd number)	ZR506xxx (odd number)	Z50xxx (even number)

Line K	<- Paris Nord Crepy en Valois ->
Car No.	1	> 2	3	4	5	6	7 <	8
Type	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised		Trailer	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised
Numbering	Z50xxx(odd number)	ZR501xxx (odd number)	ZZ502xxx (odd number)	ZR503xxx(odd number)	ZR504xxx (odd number)	ZR505xxx (odd number)	ZR506xxx (odd number)	Z50xxx (even number)

Line P	<- Paris Est Provins/La Ferté-Milon/Château-Thierry ->
Car No.	1	> 2	3	4	5	6	7 <	8
Type	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised		Trailer	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised
Numbering	Z50xxx(odd number)	ZR501xxx (odd number)	ZZ502xxx (odd number)	ZR503xxx(odd number)	ZR504xxx (odd number)	ZR505xxx (odd number))	ZR506xxx (odd number)	Z50xxx (even number)

• < or > show a pantograph. Cars 2 and 7 were each equipped with one pantograph.
• The car 3 is called ZZ because it is supported by two motorized Jacobs bogies(it's the only intermediate car that's like this)

7 cars sets

The 7-cars trainsets are formed as shown below, with three motorised cars and two non-powered trailer cars (5M2T) more precisely with 5 motorized bogies jacobs and 3 trailer bogies.

They are based at Levallois (Line L), and le Val Notre Dame/Argenteuil (Line J) depot.

Line L	<-Paris St Lazare Versailles RD / St Nom la Breteche/ Cergy ->
Car No.	1	> 2	3	4	5	6 <	7
Type	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised		Trailer	Motorised
Numbering	Z50xxx(odd number)	ZR501xxx (odd number)	ZZ502xxx (odd number)	ZR507xxx(odd number)	ZR505xxx (odd number))	ZR506xxx (odd number)	Z50xxx (even number)

Line J	<- Paris St Lazare Ermont-Eaubonne/Mantes (Vernon)/Pontoise (Gisors) ->
Car No.	1	> 2	3	4	5	6 <	7
Type	Motorised	Trailer	Motorised		Trailer	Motorised
Numbering	Z50xxx(odd number)	ZR501xxx (odd number)	ZZ502xxx (odd number)	ZR507xxx(odd number)	ZR505xxx (odd number))	ZR506xxx (odd number)	Z50xxx (even number)

• < or > show a pantograph. Cars 2 and 9 were each equipped with one pantograph.
• The car 3 is called ZZ because it is supported by two motorized Jacobs bogies(it's the only intermediate car that's like this)

Fleet

The number of Z50000 trainsets is 339 (at the 1st March 2022) . They are on operations on the E,H,J,K,L and P Line .

• Listing Fleet Z50000 (in french)

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

Notes

References

Literature

• "De la NAT au Francilien : la genèse d'un projet mené tambour battant", Rail Passion (in French), no. 153, pp. 46–65, July 2010, ISSN 1261-3665
• "Ввод в обращение - первых поездов Francilien" (PDF), Железные дороги мира (in Russian), no. 4, pp. 32–37, 2010^{[permanent dead link]}
• Jackson, C (2010), Railway Gazette International, no. 2, pp. 55–58 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
• "Server error" Пригородный - электропоезд новой концепции (PDF), Железные дороги мира (in Russian), no. 10, pp. 36–8, 2007^{[permanent dead link]}
• Hughes, M. (2007), Railway Gazette International, no. 9, p. 574 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)