ČD Class 680

ČD Class 680 are EMUs operating in the Czech Republic, using tilting Pendolino technology intended for the SuperCity train service. Built by Alstom (originally Fiat Ferroviaria), they were largely based on the nine-car ETR 470. While testing from Břeclav to Brno on November 18, 2004, the Pendolino reached a speed of 237 km/h (147 mph) and created a new Czech railway speed record.^[1] The units are able to operate on 25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC and 3,000 V DC.

Refurbished interior in First Class

ČD Class 680
Refurbished Second Class carriage
Manufacturer	Alstom (formerly Fiat Ferroviaria)
Family name	Pendolino
Constructed	2004
Entered service	2006
Number built	Seven 7-car sets
Formation	see text
Operators	České dráhy
Specifications
Train length	185.3 m (607 ft 11+1⁄4 in)
Doors	2 Pairs per-side
Maximum speed	Design: 230 km/h (143 mph) Service: 200 km/h (125 mph) Record: 237 km/h (147 mph)
Weight	384.0 t (377.9 long tons; 423.3 short tons)
Traction system	Phase-fired thyristor control
Traction motors	8 × 490 kW (660 hp)
Power output	3,920 kW (5,260 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC and 3 kV DC, all from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

v t e ČD Supercity Pendolino
Legend
Intercity Services
km 0 Františkovy Lázně 7 Cheb 37 Mariánské Lázně 49 Planá u Mariánských Lázní 80 Stříbro 113 Plzeň hl.n. 222 Praha Smíchov 226 Praha hl.n. 330 Pardubice hl.n. 476 Olomouc hl.n. 577 Ostrava Svinov 582 Ostrava hl.n. 590 Bohumín

History

The initial Czech order for tilting trains was placed with Fiat Ferroviaria during 2000.^{[citation needed]} As part of the Alstom take over of Fiat Ferroviaria the order was changed to Pendolino trains.^{[citation needed]} The first set was delivered in 2004 as Pendolino ČD 680.

During the testing period, the train had problems with the Czech signaling system. The problems were reported to have been solved and the trains entered regular service in December 2005 between Prague and Ostrava. As of late January 2006, all five of the in-service trains suffered from software and operating problems, ranging from failing air conditioning and heating to malfunctions of the tilt controls. The supposedly ERTMS-compliant ATLAS control system is unable to properly connect several discrete systems, each based on different software platforms. Similar problems have also been reported with the Finnish VR Class Sm3. All problems were fixed.^{[citation needed]}

Formation

The seven car units are composed as:

Class Nº	Type	Class
681	Driving Motor	2nd
081	Trailer	1st
683	Motor	Buffet 2nd
084	Trailer	2nd
684	Motor	2nd
082	Trailer	2nd
682	Driving Motor	2nd

Cars are individually numbered, with the driving motors carrying their numbers on the nose.

Operations

Pendolino is used primarily for the SuperCity train service, which is the fastest train service of ČD.

In December 2006 Czech Pendolinos were given permission to operate in Slovakia and Austria.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009 and 2011, one pair of ČD 680s operated as SuperCity Slovenská strela between Prague and Bratislava. However, it was cancelled due to a low demand, since the train was not actually faster, but more expensive.^{[citation needed]}

As of 2020 ČD Pendolinos operated nine trips a day in each direction on the SuperCity train service under the name SuperCity Pendolino which is running the Prague-Pardubice-Olomouc-Ostrava route, with some continuing to Bohumín and one continuing to the Slovak city of Košice under the name SuperCity Pendolino Košičan. Twice a day the service is as extended as an InterCity train from Prague to Františkovy Lázně via Plzeň.^[2]

Accidents

• On December 1, 2007 a Pendolino derailed in Prague. No one was injured but the train was severely damaged.^[3]
• On July 22, 2015 train SC 512 en route from Bohumín to Františkovy Lázně collided with a truck carrying sheet metal at a railway crossing in Studénka. Three passengers died and 17 people were injured. The unit 680 003 was badly damaged, the body of the driving car 682 had to be made new. The damage was over 200 million CZK, the unit returned to service in September 2018.^[4]

Main article: 2015 Studénka train crash

• On June 27, 2022 a Pendolino en route from Bohumín to Prague head-on collided with ČD Class 742 locomotive near Bohumín train station. According to police, Pendolino driver was drunk and drove through Stop signal. Pendolino driver died and 5 people were injured. It was initially intended that the damaged unit 680 006 would not be repaired and would be used for spare parts. Later it was decided that the two most damaged cars would be scrapped and the remaining ones would be repaired and fitted with ETCS and used as spare cars during repairs of other units.^[5][6]
• On March 1, 2023 a Pendolino en route from Prague to Košice derailed in Žilina. The train derailed because of railroad switch failure. No one was injured.^[7]

In popular culture

• A ČD Class 680 trainset was featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. While in reality, the Pendolino does not actually operate the route, in the movie it was shown traveling from Switzerland to Montenegro.^{[citation needed]}
• In the 2008 movie Wanted, the train was featured with real Czech Railways logo and equipment.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of ČD Classes
• List of high speed trains

References

1. martin (17 February 2005). "Portál Pendolino.cz - 237 km/h: Nový rychlostní rekord české železnice". Archived from the original on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
2. "Jízdní řád SC Pendolino 2011/2012". SC Pendolino (in Czech). České dráhy. 11 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012.
3. "Pendolino v Praze vykolejilo na poškozené kolejnici". idnes.cz (in Czech). 1 December 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
4. "Opravené Pendolino se po havárii u Studénky vrátilo na koleje". ct24.ceskatelevize.cz (in Czech). 6 September 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
5. "Pendolino poškozené při nehodě v Bohumíně ČD neopraví, nevyplatí se to". novinky.cz (in Czech). 9 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
6. "Poškozeně Pendolino z Bohumína našlo nové využití, do provozu se ale nevrátí. Pomůže při odstávkách". irozhlas.cz (in Czech). 30 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
7. "V Žilině vykolejilo Pendolino". zdopravy.cz (in Czech). 1 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.

External links

• Media related to CZ Class 680 at Wikimedia Commons