Transmashholding to build new type of railbus: RA-3
Metrovagonmash, a subsidiary of Transmashholding, is constructing a new type of diesel railbus RA-3. The first units will enter into service in August 2019 and will serve the routes of Central Suburban Passenger Company, the largest regional passenger carrier in Russia. The operator becomes the first to use the RA-3 railbus.
The delivery consists of three batches. The first two consist of 17 two-car trains and will be fulfilled in August and November 2019 while the third batch of six three-car units will be provided before May 2020. Metrovagonmash should deliver 23 railbuses to Central Suburban Passenger Company (CSPC). All the trains will be rented to the carrier by Sberbank Leasing, a specialised subsidiary of the eponymous Russian state bank.
RA-3 specifications
The RA-3 diesel railbus was designed by TMH Engineering (also a part of Transmashholding). The trains can be produced in a different composition, from two-car to six-car multiple units. The railbuses are capable to reach a maximum speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The cars are equipped with a passenger information system that displays data about the route and the train movements, and with video surveillance, air conditioning and energy-saving LED lighting. RA-3 railbuses are accessible for disabled passengers.
The new type of railbus is a modified version of the previous model RA-2. The main features of RA-3 compared to its predecessor are improved comfort for passengers and more seating capacity. A three-car railbus can carry around 600 passengers, a quarter of them seated. More than 100 RA-2 railbuses were manufactured in 2005-2015. Besides Russia, they run in Serbia (as ŽS 711), Hungary, Czechia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Mongolia.
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