User:Aselwyn1/NMBS M7 train

M7 is a series of double- decker carriages of the NMBS. They are built by Bombardier and Alstom. Alstom built the motorized end carriages in Charleroi and Valenciennes and the ETCS level 2 security system for all carriages. The final assembly of the other carriages was done by Bombardier in Bruges (the former BN, and now Alstom Brugge).

M7 coaches can be easily coupled with M6 coaches and will also be able to run in the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as on the Belgian high-speed lines. The trains have a boarding height of 0.63 m, while the most common platform heights in Belgium are 0.55 m and 0.76 m. This makes it difficult for people with reduced mobility to get in and out on a self-employed basis. This also makes it more difficult to get in and out with luggage because of the difference in height between the train and the platform. An additional order in December 2020 included 130 autonomously accessible carriages with an entry height of 76 cm for people with reduced mobility. A year later, in December 2021, another 98 carriages were ordered.

In a first phase, SNCB ordered 445 carriages with 105,000 seats at a total price of 1.3 billion euros, to be delivered between 2018 and 2021. An option was signed for 917 additional carriages, bringing the total to 1362 carriages, for a total amount of 3.3 billion euros. The first delivery in 2018 was not achieved.

The first 445 coaches are divided into 90 motorized driving coaches, 65 driving coaches and 290 coaches. Bombardier's share in this first order is estimated at EUR 787 million, Alstom's share at EUR 471 million.

In February 2018, a first prototype carriage was presented at Bombardier Brugge. In the factory in Bruges, the finishing of the carriages is realized and tests are carried out.

In December 2020, the NMBS announced that it had ordered an additional 204 M7 coaches from the manufacturer Bombardier-Alstom, for 450 million euros. The order consists of 130 carriages that have an entrance door with an entry height of 76 centimeters and these will be autonomously accessible to travelers with reduced mobility. The second part of the order consists of 68 carriages with a steering post and with space for bicycles and prams. These will also mainly be used on Intercity routes. The first deliveries are planned for 2024.

In December 2021, 98 new multi-purpose carriages were ordered.

Equipment
The M7 coaches are mainly intended as intercity stock, they will completely replace the M4 and partly replace the M5. The equipment is geared to that. They have air conditioning and a closed toilet system. Information screens are placed next to the interior doors showing travel information from the "RIS" system. Some coaches are equipped with a multi-purpose room and compared to the M6 ​​coaches more comfortable seats, information screens, higher ceilings, more legroom with opposite seats, space for large luggage and more power sockets. Initially, a WiFi connection as an option, but this was later deemed too expensive. Unlike the M6 ​​coaches, there are no first class seats in the M7 series. In the combined carriages, the first class is on the top floor.

Deployment
The very first deployment of the M7 coaches took place on January 13, 2020 to February 26, 2020, when some M7 coaches rode on the P train 7401 and 8400 from Liège-Guillemins to Brussels-South. In the meantime, these trains are running again entirely with M4 carriages. M7 carriages are used in P trains between Visé and Brussels-South along with I11 carriages. Since January 2021, the M7 carriages have been used on all trains of the IC-01 connection between Ostend and Eupen. On August 23, 2021, the first homogeneous line of M7 carriages from Schaerbeek in the direction of Gent-Sint-Pieters ran insured as peak hour train 8014 and that in both directions.

From the 2021-2024 period, this train will replace the outdated M4 trains of the NMBS.

Operations in 2021

 * IC 01 Oostende - Eupen (gecombineerd met I11- en I10-rijtuigen)
 * IC 20 Gent-Sint-Pieters - Tongeren (volledige trein, 2 keer per dag)
 * P Schaarbeek - Gent-Sint-Pieters (volledige trein, 2 keer per dag)

Operations in 2022

 * IC 01 Ostend - Eupen (combined with I11 and I10 carriages)
 * IC 20 Gent-Sint-Pieters - Tongeren (full train, 2 times a day)
 * P Schaerbeek - Gent-Sint-Pieters (full train, 2 times a day)






 * Bet 2022 [ edit | edit source ]
 * IC 01 Ostend - Eupen (combined with I11 and I10 carriages, all trains except IC 522). Combined train = heterogeneous composition
 * IC 20 Gent-Sint-Pieters - Tongeren (full train, 4 times a day in each direction (IC 2204, IC 2205, IC 2213, IC 2214, IC 2230, IC 2231, IC2239 and IC 2240)). Postponed for the time being due to homologation problems. The above-mentioned trains are insured with replacement stock (4× I11 and 6x I6, pulled by HLE21 or HLE18) until further notice.


 * Complete train = homogeneous composition The following trains are insured with a homogeneous composition (6× M7 including driving trailers M7 BDx and M7 Bmx):
 * P7306 Tongeren - Brussels South
 * P8305 Brussels South - Tongeren
 * IC2242 Hasselt - Ghent-St.-Pieters
 * P7012 Ghent-St.-Pieters - Schaerbeek
 * P8014 Schaerbeek - Ghent-St.-Pieters
 * IC2220 Ghent-St.-Pieters - Hasselt