Engineering:Stadler SMILE

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Short description: Swiss high-speed train
Stadler SMILE
SBB RABe 501 (Giruno)
File:EC250 "Giruno" on test run.jpg
SBB RABe 501 on test run between Erien and Romanshorn
In service2019–
ManufacturerStadler Rail
Replaced
Constructed2017, 2024– (Commissioning)
Capacity
  • 117 1st Class
  • 286 2nd Class
  • 4 Wheelchair spaces
Operator(s)
  • Swiss Federal Railways
  • WESTbahn
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Train length202 m (662 ft 9 in)
Car length
  • 22.25 m (73 ft 0 in) (end carriages)
  • 17.5 m (57 ft 5 in) (intermediate carriages)
Width2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height4,255 mm (13 ft 11.5 in)
Floor height
  • 940 mm (37 in) (low-floor)
  • 1,150 mm (45 in) (high-floor)
Wheel diameter920–840 mm (36–33 in) (new–worn)
Wheelbase
  • 2,700 mm (8 ft 10 in) (end bogies)
  • 2,750 mm (9 ft 0 in) (Jacobs-bogies)
Maximum speed
Weight380 t (370 long tons; 420 short tons) (unladen)
Traction systemABB BORDLINE CC1500 MS 25-15-3kV U 1600 059A01 3-level IGBT–VVVF[1]
Traction motors8 × TSA TMF 50-33-4 600 kW (805 hp)[2] asynchronous 3-phase AC
Power output4,800 kW (6,440 hp)
Tractive effort300 kN (67,400 lbf)
Electric system(s)
Current collection method1,450 mm (4 ft 9 in) and 1,950 mm (6 ft 5 in) wide pantographs
Engineering:UIC classification2′(Bo)′(Bo)′(2)′(2)′(2)′(2)′(Bo)′(Bo)′(2)′(2)′2′
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
Notes
Sourced from [3][4] unless otherwise stated.

The Stadler SMILE is a high-speed electric multiple unit train built by Stadler Rail of Switzerland for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and WESTbahn from 2017. According to Stadler, it was the world's first single-decker low-floor high-speed train.[5]

The trains replaced the RABe 503 trains on the trans-Alpine route between Milan and Basel / Zurich,[6] and are to be used for further connections to Germany and Austria. The main route goes through the 57 kilometres (35 mi) Gotthard Base Tunnel. As a consequence, the SMILE is also referred to as the "Gotthard train".[7]

The 11-car units operate with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and can accommodate up to 403 passengers (117 in first class, 286 in second class). Two train sets can be coupled together to accommodate over 800 passengers.

Name

Stadler originally named the train the EC250. This was changed in 2017 to SMILE,[8] short for Schneller Mehrsystemfähiger Innovativer Leichter Expresszug (English: “speedy multi-system innovative lightweight express train”).[8][9]

The Swiss Federal Railways gave the train the class designation RABe 501,[lower-alpha 2] and nicknamed the train Giruno (from Girun, Romansh for "buzzard", "bearded vulture" or "kestrel").[10]

Development

In April 2012 the Swiss Federal Railways issued a tender for 29 new single-deck trains capable of reaching 250 km/h (155 mph) for service on routes between Germany, Switzerland and Italy via the then under-construction Gotthard Base Tunnel,[11] the only completely flat route through the Alpine barrier. Bids were placed by Stadler Rail, Siemens, Alstom and Talgo. All four bids were rejected by the SBB and a second round took place, at which point Siemens withdrew. On 9 May 2014 SBB announced an order worth 980,000,000 Swiss francs for 29 Stadler EC250s. The final signing was delayed, however, as Alstom and Talgo both launched legal challenges: Alstom withdrew theirs in September 2014, while the Spain-based Talgo's complaint – that SBB gave the domestic producer an advantage – was dismissed by the Federal Administrative Court in October 2014. The final contract was signed between SBB and Stadler on 30 October 2014.[12]

File:Stadler EC250 - innoTrans 2016 (3).jpg
The EC250 at InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin

The EC250's first public appearance – as a short 5-car set – was at InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin, by Stadler CEO, Peter Spuhler, and SBB CEO, Andreas Meyer.[13] The first full 11-car set was presented at a ceremony in Bussnang on 18 May 2017, which was also attended by the then Swiss President Doris Leuthard.[14] Shortly afterwards in August, the EC250 was renamed as SMILE following a public competition.[8]

As SBB intend to operate these trains across several countries, testing had to be carried out in Germany, Italy and Austria, in addition to Switzerland. In early April 2018, a test train unit ran through the Gotthard Tunnel at 275 km/h (171 mph) in order to meet approval conditions to operate up to 250 km/h (155 mph) on the line.[15] The Federal Office of Transport approved this service for Switzerland on 4 April 2019 and the European Union Railway Agency approved it for Italy in March 2020 – in both cases, for speeds up to 200 km/h (125 mph).[16][17]

The first passenger revenue service operated between Zurich and Erstfeld on 8 May 2019, using Giruno unit 501 006.[18]

Design

The cars are connected to Jacobs bogies and the propulsion system consists of four motorised bogies, powered from four roof-mounted electric current collectors.[19] The electrification system is compatible with the Swiss and German 15 kV 16.7 Hz alternating current (AC) overhead power supplies, as well as with Italian 3 kV direct current (DC) and 25 kV 50 Hz electrification systems. The motorized bogies are reportedly capable of generating a maximum power output of 6000 kW.[20]

Each 11-car train set is 200 metres (656 ft 2 in) long and has an empty weight of 380 tonnes (840,000 lb). Each carriage has a width of 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) and a height of 4.25 m (13 ft 11 in). The wheelbase of the unpowered bogies is 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in), while those of the motorised bogies are 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in). The carriages do not have a uniform floor height as the seats at either end of each car are positioned above the bogies while the central aisle rises towards the carriage connection through ramps.

The low-floor entrances allow step-free access from platforms at heights between 550 mm (22 in) and 760 mm (30 in) and several accessible toilets and areas for wheelchairs are available, allowing the train to comply with the Law on Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities.[21] As a long-distance train, it also features signal boosters for 3G/4G cellular phone networks, power sockets (for Swiss and international plugs) and large luggage racks for passenger comfort, along with energy-efficient lighting. The interior is flexible, meaning it can be extensively refitted and modified to an operator's requirements.[20]

Service

Swiss Federal Railways - Switzerland

The Giruno units operate services from Basel and Zurich to Chiasso and Lugano. Services between Zurich and Milan have also operated since 12 August 2020, and have later expanded to Venice, Genoa and Bologna.[22] The Giruno replaced existing RABDe 500 (ICN) and tilting ETR 610 units on the Gotthard railway, which were reassigned to more winding Alpine routes such as the Jura Foot Railway.[23]

Each of the 41 trainsets, which were delivered by December 2025, is numbered and named.[24] Twenty-six are named after the cantons of Switzerland, but the numbering deviates from that of the "Gotthard locomotives". Two are named after the Italian regions of Liguria and Lombardy, one is named after the commune of Monteceneri (because of the Ceneri Base Tunnel), one after the Saint-Gotthard Massif and one after the Simplon Pass. The names are indicated at both ends of the train and inside the dining car.

Orders and deliveries

  • First batch:
    • Order for 29 trainsets (option for 92 trains) signed in October 2014, worth CHF 970 million.[25][26]
    • Entry into service: from 2019 to 2021.[27]
  • Second batch:
    • Order for 7 trainsets signed in June 2022, worth CHF 250 million.[25]
    • Entry into service: from 2024 to 2025.[27]
  • Third batch:
    • Order for 5 trainsets signed in February 2024, worth CHF 170 million.[28]
    • Entry into service: 2025.[27]

List of named RABe 501 trainsets

Trainsets list[27][29]
№ Nom № Nom № Nom
RABe 501 001 Template:Country data Ticino RABe 501 015 Template:Country data St. Gallen RABe 501 029 15px Simplon
RABe 501 002 Template:Country data Aargau RABe 501 016 Template:Country data Glarus RABe 501 030 Lombardia (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 003 San Gottardo (with coat of arms created by the SBB)[30] RABe 501 017 Template:Country data Fribourg RABe 501 031 Liguria (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 004 Template:Country data Schwyz RABe 501 018 Template:Country data Appenzell Ausserrhoden RABe 501 032 Veneto (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 005 Template:Country data Nidwalden RABe 501 019 Template:Country data Appenzell Innerrhoden RABe 501 033 Emilia-Romagna (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 006 Template:Country data Obwalden RABe 501 020 Template:Country data Luzern RABe 501 034 Hessen (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 007 Template:Country data Uri RABe 501 021 Template:Country data Graubünden RABe 501 035 Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 008 15px Monteceneri RABe 501 022 Template:Country data Vaud RABe 501 036 Toscana (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 009 Template:Country data Zürich RABe 501 023 Template:Country data Valais RABe 501 037 Baden-Württemberg (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 010 Template:Country data Basel-Landschaft RABe 501 024 Template:Country data Neuchâtel RABe 501 038 Niedersachsen (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 011 Template:Country data Thurgau RABe 501 025 Template:Country data Genève RABe 501 039 Trentino-Südtirol (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 012 Template:Country data Solothurn RABe 501 026 Template:Country data Basel-Stadt RABe 501 040 Vorarlberg (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 013 Template:Country data Zug RABe 501 027 Template:Country data Schaffhausen RABe 501 041 Tirol (without coat of arms)
RABe 501 014 Template:Country data Bern RABe 501 028 Template:Country data Jura
  • SBB RABe 501 Giruno
  • Testing near Erlen, 2017
    Testing near Erlen, 2017
  • Cab view
    Cab view
  • Error creating thumbnail:
    At Zurich in 2019 showing level entrances for both 550mm Swiss platform height and 760mm German platform height
  • Second class interior, showing the raised seats and ramps at the end of the carriage
    Second class interior, showing the raised seats and ramps at the end of the carriage
  • First class Giruno interior
    First class Giruno interior

WESTbahn - Austria

WESTbahn's order of 3 SMILE trainsets was signed in March 2025.[31][32] The first trainset entered in service in March 2026 on the Vienna - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach route. The trainsets are being leased.[33]

Saudi Arabia Railways - Saudi Arabia

A derivative of the SMILE was sold to the Saudi Arabia Railways in February 2024. The contract is for 10 trainsets with an option for 10 additional ones (CHF 600 million).[34] Artist's impressions depicted a train using the same cab as the Giruno.[35] It differs from the Swiss-Austrian variant as it is powered by two diesel-electric power units.[36]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 200 km/h (125 mph) (230 km/h (145 mph) if delayed) in Switzerland, 250 km/h (155 mph) outside of Switzerland.
  2. ↑ Refer to Swiss locomotive and railcar classification for the designation logic.

References

  1. ↑ "Compact converter BORDLINE® CC1500 MS for multi-system high-speed trains". ABB. 19 February 2018. https://library.e.abb.com/public/8e2a83831f4147d4a8b93dae76270566/BORDLINE%20CC1500%20MS_15-25-3kV_U_1600%20EC250%20RevA%20EN.pdf. 
  2. ↑ "Stadler Rail E250 Giruno for SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen)". Traktionssysteme Austria. https://www.tsa.at/tsa_referenzen/stadler-rail-e250-giruno-for-sbb/. 
  3. ↑ "Electric high-speed multiple unit SMILE". Stadler Rail. https://www.stadlerrail.com/api/docs/x/a56791c29b/smile_sbb_en.pdf. 
  4. ↑ "Das Zulassungskonzept für den EC 250 / Giruno Hochgeschwindigkeitszug". http://www.schienenfahrzeugtagung.at/download/PDF2016/DiV07_Starlinger.pdf. 
  5. ↑ "Stadler Rail wins tender for NRLA trains". Stadler Rail. http://www.stadlerrail.com/en/news/2014/05/13/stadler-rail-wins-tender-for-nrla-trains/. 
  6. ↑ Green, Anitra (9 May 2014). "SBB orders 29 transalpine EMUs from Stadler". International Railway Journal. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/sbb-orders-transalpine-emus-from-stadler.html?channel=529. 
  7. ↑ Stadler Giruno High-Speed Train for the Gotthard Receives Operating Licence, railway-news.com
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 elena (2017-08-18). "Stadler renames EC250 high-speed train as SMILE" (in en-US). https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/stadler-renames-ec250-high-speed-train-smile/. 
  9. ↑ "Stadler names its new high-speed train SMILE." globalrailwayreview.com, 18 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "«Giruno» = Mäusebussard? - Die Tücken der Sprache" (in de). SRF. 2017-05-19. https://www.srf.ch/news/giruno-maeusebussard-die-tuecken-der-sprache. 
  11. ↑ Green, Anitra (16 April 2012). "SSB issues tender for 29 high-speed trains". https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/sbb-issues-tender-for-29-high-speed-trains/. 
  12. ↑ Fontana, Katharina (30 October 2014). "Sieg für Stadler Rail und SBB" (in de). Neue Zürcher Zeitung. https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/sieg-fuer-stadler-rail-und-sbb-1.18414805. 
  13. ↑ "Stadler unveils EC250 'Giruno' low floor high-speed train". 22 September 2016. https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/30034/stadler-ec250-giruno-low-floor-high-speed-train/. 
  14. ↑ "Stadler presents the New Gotthard Tunnel Train". 22 May 2017. https://railway-news.com/stadler-presents-new-gotthard-tunnel-train/. 
  15. ↑ "Mit 275 km/h durch den Gotthard Basistunnel" (in de). 3 April 2018. https://www.info24news.net/275/. 
  16. ↑ "Stadler Giruno High-Speed Train for the Gotthard Receives Operating Licence". 5 April 2019. https://railway-news.com/stadler-giruno-operating-licence/. 
  17. ↑ "Stadler: SBB-Hochgeschwindigkeitszug "Giruno" erhält Italien-Zulassung" (in de). 7 March 2020. https://bahnblogstelle.net/2020/03/07/stadler-sbb-hochgeschwindigkeitszug-giruno-erhaelt-italien-zulassung/. 
  18. ↑ "[CH SBB Giruno: First service with passengers"]. Railcolor News. 8 May 2019. https://railcolornews.com/2019/05/08/ch-sbb-giruno-first-day-of-service-tomorrow/. 
  19. ↑ Hegde, Zenobia. "TE Connectivity to supply high-voltage roofline equipment for Stadler SMILE trains." IoTNow, 12 March 2018.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Stadler EC250 High-Speed Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)." railway-technology.com, Retrieved: 22 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "Giruno Gotthard train granted to operate at 200 km/h on the Swiss network". 8 April 2019. https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/80182/gotthard-giruno-train-swiss-network/. 
  22. ↑ Hartmeier, Sandro (17 November 2020). "Giruno seit 10. August 2020 zwischen Zürich und Mailand im Einsatz" (in de). https://www.bahnonline.ch/888/giruno-ab-montag-zwischen-zuerich-und-mailand-im-einsatz/. 
  23. ↑ "Rollmaterial-Beschaffung Nord-Süd-Verkehr: SBB vergibt Auftrag für 29 neue Züge an Stadler Rail" (in de). 9 May 2014. https://info24bahnnews.jimdofree.com/2014/05/09/rollmaterial-beschaffung-nord-s%C3%BCd-verkehr-sbb-vergibt-auftrag-f%C3%BCr-29-neue-z%C3%BCge-an-stadler-rail/. 
  24. ↑ "Giruno: der neue Gotthard-Personenzug | SBB" (in de). https://www.sbb.ch/de/reiseinformationen/services-im-zug/unsere-zuege/giruno.html. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 International, Railway Gazette. "SBB orders Giruno trainsets for services to Germany" (in en). https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/sbb-orders-giruno-trainsets-for-services-to-germany/61843.article. 
  26. ↑ "Default Title" (in en). https://www.stadlerrail.com/en/solutions/references/electric-high-speed-multiple-unit-smile-sbb. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "SBB CFF FFS – RABe 501 - passiontrain.ch" (in fr-FR). 2025-11-11. https://www.passiontrain.ch/sbb-cff-ffs-rabe-501/. 
  28. ↑ "Stadler décroche une commande des CFF pour cinq trains Giruno" (in fr-FR). 2024-02-14. https://www.rhonefm.ch/suisse/stadler-decroche-une-commande-des-cff-pour-cinq-trains-giruno-305371. 
  29. ↑ "SBB RABe 501 "Giruno" - Eisenbahn @ juergs.ch" (in de). http://www.juergs.ch/eisenbahn/triebzuege/rabe-501/. 
  30. ↑ "«San Gottardo» - Erster neuer Gotthard-Zug getauft" (in de). SRF. 2019-08-08. https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/san-gottardo-erster-neuer-gotthard-zug-getauft. 
  31. ↑ Redaktion (2026-03-08). "Stadler liefert SMILE Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge an WESTbahn" (in de). https://www.bahnonline.ch/75271/westbahn-stadler-smile/. 
  32. ↑ "Stadler delivers SMILE high-speed trains to WESTbahn" (in en). https://www.stadlerrail.com/en/media/media-releases/stadler-liefert-smile-hochgeschwindigkeitszuege-an-die-westbahn. 
  33. ↑ "Stadler SMILE high-speed EMUs enter service in Austria". 2026-03-04. https://rollingstockworld.com/passenger-cars/stadler-smile-high-speed-emus-enter-service-in-austria/. 
  34. ↑ Redaktion (2024-09-23). "Stadler: Intercity-Züge der nächsten Generation für Saudi-Arabien" (in de). https://www.bahnonline.ch/61730/saudi-arabien-stadler-liefert-intercity-zuege/. 
  35. ↑ "Stadler Intercity trains for Saudi Arabia Railways". Railcolor News. 7 February 2024. https://railcolornews.com/2024/02/06/passenger-stadler-intercity-trains-for-saudi-arabia-railways. 
  36. ↑ Redaktion (2024-09-23). "Stadler: Intercity-Züge der nächsten Generation für Saudi-Arabien" (in de). https://www.bahnonline.ch/61730/saudi-arabien-stadler-liefert-intercity-zuege/. 



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