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Diesel Multiple Units for Medium and Long Distances[Inhalt]
Alstom Coradia LIREX
DB AG class 618
Germany | 2000
only one produced
The LIREX in March 2003 in Wittenberge
The LIREX in March 2003 in Wittenberge
Gustav Richard

In the 1990s, Linke-Hoffmann-Busch, now known as Alstom Transport Deutschland, developed a modern, completely low-floor multiple unit with a modular drivetrain. It was introduced as LIREX, which means "light, innovative regional express". The basic concept for achieving the required properties consisted of combining the multiple unit from short car bodies that stood on special single-axle chassis and accommodating the majority of the propulsion technology on the roof.

Strictly speaking, the chassis was not a matter of individual axles, but of “curve-controlled individual wheel chassis” (KERF). The train was made up of two three-part halves, each with a two-axle car body in the middle. This was followed by another car body on both sides, which only stood on one axle and still achieved stable driving characteristics thanks to the steered wheels. In the entire train, six of the eight axles were equipped with a traction motor, which was powered by a total of four light diesel generators, each with 338 kW. Using a flywheel storage device, part of the braking energy could be recovered and reused for the next acceleration phase.

Only one set was built, which was used as a regional express between Magdeburg and Wittenberge. The passenger compartment, whose floor had a maximum height of 790 mm above the rails, was equipped with different, innovative seating arrangements and new types of entertainment electronics. Thanks to the short car bodies, it was possible to create more interior space with an external width of 3,042 mm and to arrange up to five seats in a row. A planned exchange of the four diesel generators for appropriate pantographs and converters did not take place. The vehicle was parked in 2006 and has been for sale since 2016. The Coradia Nordic was later developed as a successor without the individual wheel chassis, but with drive technology also housed in the roof area, and the Coradia Continental, which is also used in Germany, was based on this.

General
Built2000
ManufacturerAlstom LHB
Axle configA-1-A-A+A-A-1-A 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats300
Dimensions and Weights
Length224 ft 8 7/16 in
Empty weight352,739 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed99 mph
Engine output1,813 hp (1,352 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
local
regional
prototype
Alstom Coradia
last changed: 02/2022
Belgian Railway MW 41
Belgium | 1999
96 produced
No. 4162 in January 2006 in Ghent Sint-Pieters
No. 4162 in January 2006 in Ghent Sint-Pieters
Vitaly Volkov
General
Built1999-2004
ManufacturerAlstom
Axle config2-B+B-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats155
Dimensions and Weights
Length162 ft 8 3/4 in
Wheelbase62 ft 7 9/16 in
Rigid wheelbase7 ft 2 1/4 in
Service weight210,982 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-hydraulic
Top speed75 mph
EngineCummins QSK 19-R650
Engine type2x 6-cyl. diese1
Engine output1,301 hp (970 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
local
regional
Bombardier Voyager and Meridian
British Rail classes 220, 221 and 222
Great Britain | 2000
105 produced
Cross Country five car Super Voyager at Leamington Spa in June 2016
Cross Country five car Super Voyager at Leamington Spa in June 2016
Rob Hodgkins / 221-127 Cross Country Leamington 18-06-15
Variant220 Voyager221 Super Voyager five-car222 Meridian seven-car
General
Built2000-20012001-20022003-2005
ManufacturerBombardier
Axle config1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1 1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1 1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1+1A-A1 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats200250342
Dimensions and Weights
Length306 ft 4 in381 ft 0 in530 ft 8 in
Rigid wheelbase7 ft 4 5/8 in
Service weight409,248 lbs623,392 lbs857,584 lbs
Boiler
Variant220 Voyager221 Super Voyager five-car222 Meridian seven-car
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed125 mph
EngineCummins QSK19
Engine type4x 6-cyl. diesel5x 6-cyl. diesel7x 6-cyl. diesel
Engine output3,000 hp (2,237 kW)3,750 hp (2,796 kW)5,250 hp (3,915 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
long distance
tilting
Bombardier multiple unit
British Rail Turbostar
later classes 168 and 170 to 172
Great Britain | 1998
217 produced
First ScotRail 170429 in October 2007 at Edinburgh Waverley
First ScotRail 170429 in October 2007 at Edinburgh Waverley
Hugh Llewelyn

Under the name “Turbostar”, Bombardier (originally Adtranz) combined four classes of diesel multiple units that were based on the classes 165/166 “Networker Turbo”. Production took place at the Adtranz/Bombardier factory in Derby. They were the first new vehicles purchased by British railway companies after privatization, with Chiltern Railways as the first customer.

They are designed to be coupled with the “Sprinters” of classes 150 to 159. However, with a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h), they are faster over longer distances. Compared to their predecessors, they are also largely constructed of aluminum, but have more powerful engines from MTU.

The different variants each consist of two to four cars. The first delivered Class 168 is also called “Clubman”. Classes 170 and 171 only differ in the couplers. The class 172 has bigger differences, as it has more powerful engines and a mechanical six-speed gearbox instead of the two-stage hydraulic Voith gearbox. In the subclasses 172/2 and 172/3 there are additional gangways on the fronts.

Variant168 three-car170 two-car171 four-car172 two-car
General
Built1998-20041998-20052003-20042010-2011
ManufacturerAdtranz, BombardierBombardier
Axle config2-B+2-B+B-2 2-B+B-2 2-B+2-B+B-2+B-2 2-B+B-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats204107241124
Dimensions and Weights
Length232 ft 5 3/4 in154 ft 11 1/16 in309 ft 11 11/16 in154 ft 11 13/16 in
Service weight298,726 lbs199,320 lbs388,476 lbs183,204 lbs
Boiler
Variant168 three-car170 two-car171 four-car172 two-car
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-hydraulicdiesel-mechanic
Top speed100 mph
EngineMTU 6R 183 TD13HMTU 6H 1800 R83
Engine type3x 6-cyl. diesel2x 6-cyl. diese14x 6-cyl. diesel2x 6-cyl. diese1
Engine output1,267 hp (945 kW)845 hp (630 kW)1,690 hp (1,260 kW)966 hp (720 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
regional
last changed: 12/2023
British Rail class 175
Great Britain | 1999
27 produced
Three-car class 175/1 of Arriva Trains Wales in Cardiff in March 2008
Three-car class 175/1 of Arriva Trains Wales in Cardiff in March 2008
Hugh Llewelyn / 175 108

In 1997, North Western Trains ordered 27 diesel multiple units from Alstom for longer distances. These class 175 trains together with the class 180 make up the “Coradia 1000” family and were built in Great Britain. The eleven two-car trains form the class 175/0 and the 16 three-car trains form the class 175/1. A part of them was originally intended to be built for 125 mph, but in the end all were only ordered for 100 mph. After being used for an extended period by Arriva Trains Wales, the operator is Transport for Wales Rail since 2021. They are to be replaced by the CAF-built class 197 in 2023.

Variant175/0175/1
General
Built1999-2001
ManufacturerAlstom
Axle config2-B+B-2 2-B+B-2+B-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats136
Dimensions and Weights
Length155 ft 7 in231 ft 1 3/4 in
Empty weight215,712 lbs317,744 lbs
Boiler
Variant175/0175/1
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-hydraulic
Top speed100 mph
EngineCummins N14
Engine type2x 6-cyl. diese13x 6-cyl. diesel
Engine output900 hp (671 kW)1,350 hp (1,007 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
local
regional
Alstom Coradia
last changed: 03/2023
British Rail class 180 “Adelante”
Great Britain | 2000
14 produced
Grand Central class 180 near Cromwell Moor
Grand Central class 180 near Cromwell Moor
Phil Sangwell
General
Built2000-2001
ManufacturerAlstom
Axle config2-B+B-2+B-2+B-2+B-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats287
Dimensions and Weights
Length382 ft 3 3/8 in
Empty weight556,640 lbs
Axle load29,680 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-hydraulic
Top speed125 mph
EngineCummins QSK19
Engine type5x 6-cyl. diesel
Engine output3,750 hp (2,796 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
regional
long distance
Alstom Coradia
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (Burlington Route) “Pioneer Zephyr” and “Mark Twain Zephyr”
United States | 1934
2 produced
Colorized photo on a postcard
Colorized photo on a postcard
Burlington Route
“Mark Twain Zephyr” in June 1956 in Saint Joseph, Missouri
“Mark Twain Zephyr” in June 1956 in Saint Joseph, Missouri
Chuck Zeiler
General
Built1934
ManufacturerBudd
Axle configB-2-2-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats72
Dimensions and Weights
Length197 ft 2 in
Empty weight176,370 lbs
Adhesive weight90,389 lbs
Axle load45,195 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed110 mph
EngineWinton 201-A
Engine typeV8 diesel
Engine output603 hp (450 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
streamline
express
Danish State Railways MR/MRD
Denmark | 1978
98 produced
No. 4048 in July 2018 north of Lindholm
No. 4048 in July 2018 north of Lindholm
Liberaler Humanist
General
Built1978-1985
ManufacturerUerdingen, Scandia
Axle config2-B+B-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats126
Dimensions and Weights
Length146 ft 7 1/16 in
Service weight164,465 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-hydraulic
Top speed81 mph
EngineDeutz F12L 413F
Engine type2x V12 diesel
Engine output636 hp (474 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
regional
Danish State Railways MF “IC3”
Denmark | 1989
96 produced
IC3 No. 46 in August 2011 in Aalborg
IC3 No. 46 in August 2011 in Aalborg
Leif Jørgensen

The MF of the Danish State Railways are diesel multiple units which can be recognized by their air-tight rubber noses. The noses are inflated with air. While coupling to another unit, the air is shortly being deflated and inflated again to match the shape of the other unit. Inside the noses, there is a cab that can be folded away to make space for the passenger gangway.

Technically, each set consists of three car bodies which are running on four bogies, the inner two of which are Jacobs bogies. From a total of four Deutz diesel engines, each one is connected to one axle of one bogie via a mechanical gearbox. Each engine delivers 400 hp and starting in 2005, these were changed against new Deutz engines with 450 hp each.

The approved top speed is 180 km/h and in 1991, one train set the new Danish rail speed record with 204.6 km/h. These trains are also operating into Germany and are reaching Hamburg. Starting in 2018, they were refurbished. The Spanish class 594 is closely related to the MF, but only consists of two cars. An optically similar EMU is called X31K by the SJ and operates between Sweden and Denmark.

Variantas builtre-engined 2005
General
Built1989-1998
ManufacturerABB Scandia
Axle config1A-A1-1A-A1 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats144
Dimensions and Weights
Length192 ft 11 3/4 in
Service weight213,848 lbs
Boiler
Variantas builtre-engined 2005
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-mechanic
Top speed112 mph
EngineDeutz BF8L513CPDeutz TCD2015
Engine type4x V8 diesel4x 6-cyl. diesel
Engine output1,577 hp (1,176 kW)1,770 hp (1,320 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
regional
long distance
last changed: 07/2024
Danish State Railways MG “IC4”
Denmark | 2003
83 produced
IC4 in April 2013 in Vejle
IC4 in April 2013 in Vejle
Leif Jørgensen
General
Built2003-2013
ManufacturerAnsaldoBreda
Axle config1A-A1-2-1A-A1 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats196
Dimensions and Weights
Length283 ft 10 11/16 in
Empty weight375,888 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-mechanic
Top speed124 mph
EngineIveco FVQE 28
Engine type4x V8 diesel
Engine output3,004 hp (2,240 kW)
Calculated Values
DMU
long distance
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