page_title: SBB-CFF-FFS RBe 540
section_title: Operation
hierarchical_section_title: SBB-CFF-FFS RBe 540 / Operation
caption_attribution_description: English: Push-pull train consisting of RBe 540 motor coaches top-and-tail and six coaches in between on the S-Bahn Zürich S33 service Deutsch: RBe-Doppelpendel mit sechs Wagen im "Sandwich" unterwegs für die Zürcher S-Bahn als S33
context_page_description: Starting in 1959, the SBB motor coach of the type RBe 4/4 was for a replacement of the old SBB electric locomotives Ae 3/6 I, Ae 3/6 II, Ae 3/6 III and SBB Ae 3/5 with three driving axles. As a consequence, they had much power at their disposal, even more than the Re 4/4 I locomotives, a regenerative brake, cabs on both ends with doors to passenger carriages as well as Multiple-unit train control SBB Vst IIId for multiple-unit or driving trailer. They originally motor coach had 64 seats, 32 smoking and 32 non-smoking, and were painted in ordinary SBB green.
  The first six prototypes, each costing one million swiss francs, were delivered 1959 and 1960, and first shown to the press at 24 May 1959. The prototypes had some issues which were fixed until the series production. The series units were four tonnes heavier, and 76 units were ordered, which were put into service between 1963 and 1966.
  Most of the technical equipment is installed below the passenger compartment, leading to a higher than usual floor level than ordinary carriages had. Some of the equipment and the toilet is installed in the middle of the multiple unit, instead of passenger compartments.
context_section_description: The RBe 540 are usually used together with one or more Einheitswagen ("standard coaches") I or II as well as a control car BDt or Bt for commuter service. Together with their modernization, the EW I/II and control cars were also modernized to match the new livery. Nowadays, these consists serve regional lines with low passenger frequencies and supplement services normally run by NPZ consists, but are progressively replaced by the modern Stadler GTW. On the S-Bahn Zurich network, special consists can be seen, consisting of two RBe 540 on the front and back of the train with six modernized EW I or II in between, which avoids the pointless use of control cars, because shorter consists couldn't provide enough capacity anyway and a single multiple unit would not be able to deliver enough acceleration for S-Bahn operation. The free control cars are used together with EW I/II and Re 4/4ᴵᴵ locomotives to create more push–pull trains.
  Some RBe 540 rented from Thurbo were also used by the S-Bahn St. Gallen until 2005, together with an EW AB and a BDt.
  It also happens during wintertime that RBe 540 have to replace the newer RBDe 560 multiple units, often due to issues with the doors; then one can see RBe 540 multiple units together with NPZ control cars, living up to the joke about the name NPZ (NPZ = Nichts Passt Zusammen = "nothing fits together").
caption: To save control cars and to have more power, S-Bahn trains are often run by two RBe 540 with the train sandwiched in between
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