Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 38, 2011

NSB Class 73 (NSB type 73) is a class of 22 electric multiple units built by Adtranz for the Norwegian State Railways. The four-car trains were modifications of Class 71, which was again based on the Swedish X2. The A-series consists of 16 intercity trains; they were delivered in 1999 and 2000 and are used on the Bergen, Dovre and Sørland Lines. The intercity service was branded as Signatur until 2003. The B-series consists of six regional trains delivered in 2002 and used on the Østfold Line. The regional trains were originally part of the Agenda concept. The trains have a power output of 2646 kW and a maximum speed of 210 km/h. They have an overall length of 108 m and have a capacity for 208 seated passengers in the A-series and 250 in the B-series. The trains have tilting mechanism allowing for faster travel through curves. The trains were delivered late, and were put into service after the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate had given dispensation from parts of the safety regulation. On 17 June 2000, a train derailed at Nelaug Station after an axle broke. The class was grounded for a month, and the investigation showed both design errors, and lack of proper inspection and testing. After they were put back into service, they were not allowed to use the tilting mechanism—thus not being allowed to run faster than their predecessors. In 2007, a train derailed on the Bergen Line, and questions were raised about the trains' ability to operate in snow. NSB has announced that they will withdraw the train from the Bergen Line service. On 16 June 2011, two units were destroyed when the train ran into a fire in a snow tunnel at Hallingskeid Station.