VR Class Sm3

Infobox Locomotive
name=VR Class Sm3
powertype=electric

---

caption=Sm3 at Helsinki main railway station.
builder=FIAT Ferroviaria, Rautaruukki-Transtech
builddate=1995—2006
totalproduction=18 six-carriage units
uicclass=(1A)'(A1)' - (1A)'(A1)' - 2'2' + 2'2' - (1A)'(A1)' - (1A)'(A1)'
length=158.90 m
weight=302 t
electricsystem=
topspeed=220 km/h
poweroutput=4,000 kW
tractiveeffort=
safety=
railroad=VR Group
disposition=in service
The Sm3 is a class of high-speed body-tilting tilting trains operated by the VR Group (Finnish railways), built by FIAT Ferroviaria (except for first two trainsets, which were built in Finland by Rautaruukki-Transtech). It is a member of the Pendolino train family, its design based on the ETR 460. The Sm3 operates at a maximum speed of 220 km/h (the highest speed ever reached by this type is 248 km/h), although this speed is only attained between Kerava and Lahti. Generally referred to simply as "Pendolino" in Finland, the trains are distinguished in Finnish railway timetables by the letter S.

The Pendolino system was chosen at the beginning of the 1990s because of the twisting nature of a great many of Finland's rail routes. Building trains that could ensure passenger comfort at high speed on these routes by tilting through the curves was a much cheaper solution than reconstructing the railway network itself.

Thanks to its tilting mechanism, the Pendolino – unlike such other European high-speed trains as the TGV, Thalys, and AVE – does not need to run on specialised high-speed lines; instead, it runs on existing lines. This has both beneficial and negative consequences. The trains cannot run at as high a speed as, for example, the TGV, due to the lines. However, the Pendolino can also run alongside "standard" trains, allowing for greater use of the railway. Also, building high-speed lines costs a lot more, which makes them uneconomical due to Finland's low population and long distances. Despite its relatively low speeds for a high-speed network, the Sm3 Pendolino has been successful because it connects many Finnish cities and towns, similar to the TGV, which spans a large number of major cities in France.

The Sm3 is a premium facility train. There are audio sockets for radio and music channels, as well as headphones. In some seats, there are also electricity sockets for laptop and mobile phones. There is a bistro on board that serves snack bar-style dishes. In Business Plus Class (1st class), there is personal service and a complimentary meal, similar to airline service.

Pendolino routes

The Pendolino fast train network radiates out from Helsinki. The following destinations are served (the list includes the changes which followed opening of the new high-speed line from Kerava to Lahti on 3 September 2006):
*Espoo
*Iisalmi
*Imatra
*Jämsä
*Joensuu
*Joutseno
*Jyväskylä
*Kajaani
*Karis
*Kesälahti
*Kirkkonummi
*Kitee
*Kokkola
*Kouvola
*Kuopio
*Kupittaa
*Lahti
*Lappeenranta
*Mikkeli
*Orivesi
*Oulu
*Parikkala
*Parkano
*Pasila
*Pieksämäki
*Salo
*Seinäjoki
*Kempele
*Tampere
*Tikkurila
*Turku
*YlivieskaA service is currently under construction from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, Russia utilizing Pendolinos, due to open in 2010 [http://www.vrgroup.fi/vakiolinkit/VRinforms/news_110.html] .

High speed railways

The Kerava - Lahti line has the fastest speed in operation (as of 2008) in the Nordic countries, 220 km/h. The trains also stay at 200 km/h on a longer route between Helsinki and Tampere.

Finland uses its 1524 mm gauge, not standard gauge since they want to use the same trains for both high-speed railways and old enhanced railways. The only trans-border railway to Sweden at Tornio is not planned for border crossing passenger trains, so therefore for Finnish passenger trains there is little reason to worry about the broad gauge.

Technical information

*Maximum speed: 220 km/h
*Power: 4,000 kW
*Traction motors: 8 asynchronous three-phase AC
*Acceleration, 0 - 100 km/h: 57 s, 810 m (a=0.50 m/s²)
*Acceleration, 0 - 200 km/h: 193 s, 6,800 m (a=0.37 m/s²)
*Braking, 140 - 0 km/h: 39 s,750 m (a=1.01 m/s²)
*Braking, 200 - 0 km/h: 59 s, 1,650 m (a=0.94 m/s²)
*Tractive effort at rims: 163 kN
*Length: 158.9 m
*Width: 3.2 m
*Height: 3.73 m
*Weight: 328 t (originally 316 t)
*Maximum axle load: 14.3 t (originally 13.25 t)
*Wheel diameter: new 890 mm, fully worn 850 mm
*Gauge: 1,524 mm (for the Finnish version)
*Maximum tilting angle: 8°
*Total number of seats: 309 [307 + 2 H] (originally 262 + 2H)
*Maximum noise level inside: 65 dBA
*Ambient temperature range: -40 °C - +35 °C

ee also

*High-speed rail in Europe#Finland

External links

*fi icon [http://www.vr.fi/heo/junat/pendolino.htm VR introduction page for the Sm3 Pendolino]
* [http://benbe.extra.hu/categories/benbeic.Finland.Electric.EMU.Sm3_eng.php Pictures]