The CAF Talent 3 is a family of railcars designed by Bombardier Transportation and produced by CAF. The first generation Talent (Talbot leichter Nahverkehrs-Triebwagen) was built in 1996 by Waggonfabrik Talbot in Aachen, Germany. In contrast to the Bombardier Talent 2, the multiple unit is not a new development, but a further development of Talent 2, to which Talent 3 is visually similar. In contrast to the second generation, the Talent 3 complies not only with German but also with European standards.

ÖBB Talent 3 at InnoTrans 2018
SWEG Talent 3 in May 2021

The first unit was planned to enter service in 2019, but the first runs with passengers did not start until November 2020.[1] In November 2021, Alstom sold the design rights to the Talent 3 to CAF to comply with a European Commission directive when it took over Bombardier.[2]

Service history

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Bombardier introduced the Talent 3 at the InnoTrans trade show in September 2016.[3] That month, ÖBB announced a preliminary agreement to purchase up to 300 sets.[4] The agreement was formally signed, along with a firm order for the first 21 sets to be operated from a base in Vorarlberg, in December.[5] In May 2017, ÖBB announced an order for an additional 25 sets for service in Tyrol and cross-border operation to Italy.[6] Construction of the first Talent 3s for ÖBB began in September 17, with deliveries scheduled to begin in April 2019.[7] In ÖBB service, they were to be designated Class 4758.[7] Due to delays, the order was cancelled in 2021.[8]

In March 2017, German operator Vlexx ordered 21 Talent 3 sets for operation in the states of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, supposed to begin operation in December 2019.[9] Introduction of the units started to in March 2020.[10]

Design

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A Talent 3 battery multiple unit near Herrenberg, Germany

The Talent 3 is based on the earlier Talent and Talent 2 designs, with a wider carbody, larger doors, and a lower floor to increase capacity and improve passenger flow at station stops.[5] Depending on the intended service pattern, the Talent 3 can be specified with either a 160-or-200-kilometre-per-hour (99 or 124 mph) top speed.[5] Talent 3 sets can vary in length based on customer requirements—ÖBB ordered six-car sets with a passenger capacity of 300,[7] while Vlexx ordered three-car sets that carry up to 160 passengers.[9]

In September 2018 a prototype Talent 3 capable of lithium battery operation was unveiled.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Lubomir Cech: "Modernized trains in Voralberg to make waiting for Talent 3 units easier". Railcolor News, 2 July 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021
  2. ^ CAF to purchase divested platforms and sites from Alstom International Railway Journal 24 November 2021
  3. ^ "Bombardier unveils two new trains". International Railway Journal. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Bombardier to supply up to 300 EMUs to ÖBB". International Railway Journal. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "ÖBB orders Talent 3 multiple-units". Railway Gazette International. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. ^ "ÖBB to order more Talent 3 EMUs for Tyrol". International Railway Journal. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "First ÖBB Talent 3 EMUs near completion". International Railway Journal. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  8. ^ "The Uncertain Fate Of Talents For ÖBB". Railvolution. 1 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Vlexx signs Saarland Talent 3 EMU order". Railway Gazette International. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  10. ^ Vosman, Quintus (6 April 2020). "Vlexx begins operation with Bombardier EMUs". International Railway Journal.
  11. ^ "Bombardier and Leclanché sign battery traction MoU". Railway Gazette International. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
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  Media related to Bombardier Talent 3 at Wikimedia Commons