The Service Jets, which can evacuate up to 324 people each, are part of a €230m investment by ÖBB in new multifunctional, innovative, and low-emission vehicles from Stadler.
Johann Pluy, CEO of ÖBB-Infrastruktur, said, “If something happens, we can quickly be anywhere in Austria with our new service jets and provide assistance. They bring more power in a wider range of applications.”
The Service Jets can travel in both directions at speeds of up to 160km/h. This is made possible thanks to two design changes. First, while the previous rescue trains were coupled with special wagons, the new vehicles are a “continuously accessible train set, which brings considerable advantages”. According to ÖBB, it is now possible to change the driver’s cab and thus change direction more quickly than before.
Second, the new Service Jets use a new type of drive concept – the trains are equipped with a sustainable electric hybrid drive that can use three energy sources. Either they use electricity from the overhead line and thus have 4,000 hp of drive power, or they have access to a powerful battery with 280 kWh or two diesel generators with a total of 1,060 hp as a fallback level.
The new concept also enables a reduction from 21 to 18 vehicles. In addition, the reduced variety of types reduces the training effort of personnel as well as maintenance costs, ÖBB noted.
“The production of individualized rail vehicles is deeply rooted in Stadler’s DNA,” said Dennis Laubbacher, CEO of Stadler Bussnang. “In this way, we were able to incorporate over 80 years of experience into the development and manufacture of the new service jets for ÖBB. The new vehicles are technically unique and, thanks to the trimodal drive, enable efficient rescue and firefighting work on the entire Austrian rail network.”
The Service Jets are equipped with state-of-the-art firefighting equipment for rescue and firefighting operations and embankment wetting operations, breathing apparatus for 18 emergency personnel, thermal imaging cameras and hydraulic rescue scissors, among other things.
According to ÖBB, the Service Jets are not only optimally equipped in the event of a fire, other areas of application are also planned. The units have enough power to tow trains weighing up to 2,000 tons – even without overhead lines – or to power a defective train. In addition, the new Service Jet is also intended for maintenance work in daily operation.