ETR.460 | TrainsDepot.org

ETR.460

Also known as: Pendolino

UIC / EVN numbering: 93 83 0460 / 93 83 3460 / 93 83 4460 / 93 83 5460 / 93 83 6460 / 93 83 9460

Vehicle type: Electric multiple unit - EMU

Registration country: Italy

Railway companies: FS - Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane TI - Trenitalia S.p.A.

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In service:

from 1994

Built by:

Fiat Railway

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1994

The ETR.460 "Pendolino" is an electric multiple unit tilting train produced by FIAT Ferroviaria since 1993. This trainset is a development of the earlier ETR.450, which was developed in the 1970s.

The ETR.460 features enhancements in layout, electrical and electronic systems, and passenger comfort, while maintaining a maximum speed of 250 km/h. The ETR.460 has led to two similar Pendolino models: the ETR.470 and ETR.480. The primary distinction between these variations lies in their power supply capabilities:
the ETR.460 operates exclusively on 3 kV DC;
the ETR.470 can run on both 3 kV DC and 15 kV AC;
the ETR.480 is designed for 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC, which is utilized on Italy's new high-speed railways.
Additionally, three ETR.460 sets were modified to operate on 1.5 kV DC for services between Milan and Turin-Lyon and are renamed ETR.463. Various international train models, including the British Class 390, Slovenian Class 310, Portuguese Alfa Pendular, Finnish Sm3, and Spanish Class 490 "Alaris", have been derived from the ETR 460.

The trainset, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, is employed by Trenitalia for its Frecciabianca service across multiple routes in Italy. The ETR.460 is equipped with a tilting capability of up to 8° when navigating corners, which helps mitigate the impact of centrifugal force on passengers. This feature ensures passenger comfort even when the train takes full advantage of the track's characteristics, aided by the train's lightweight design of only 13.5 tons per axle. While the ETR.460 does not necessitate specific modifications to the rail infrastructure, it incurs considerable maintenance costs due to the intricacies of its tilting system. The hydraulic tilting mechanism operates under the guidance of two gyroscopes located in the lead cars, with the tilt angle determined by the elevation of the external track.

The ETR.460 is equipped with 12 three-phase asynchronous motors, a reduction from the 16 motors found in the ETR.450, which enhances its cornering abilities. These motors are driven by GTO-VVVF inverters, collectively providing approximately 6 MW of power. The train utilizes rheostatic electric braking, which allows for energy recovery at certain speeds, while its mechanical braking system employs disc brakes managed by an electro-pneumatic system known as Wabcontrol.

The ETR.460 has a passenger capacity of up to 480 individuals and features a configuration that includes two head coaches, six intermediate passenger coaches, and a bar-restaurant coach.

NB¹: ETR stands for ElettroTreno in Italian.
NB²: Pendolino (from Italian pendolo [ˈpɛndolo] "pendulum", and -ino, a diminutive suffix) is an Italian family of high-speed tilting trains used in Italy but also in other European countries and even the US, Russia and China. Based on the design of the Italian ETR.401, it was further developed and manufactured by Fiat Ferroviaria, which was taken over by Alstom in 2000.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FS_Class_ETR_460

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