| NMBS/SNCB Classical twin EMUs | |
| Interiorimage: | Klassiek motorstel 2e klasse.jpg |
| Interiorcaption: | 2nd class original interior |
| Service: | 1939–present |
| Manufacturer: | La Brugeoise et Nivelles / ACEC |
| Yearconstruction: | 1939–1979 |
| Numberbuilt: | 497 (not in service at the same time) |
| Formation: | EMC-EMS |
| Capacity: | 118 to 185, depending on series |
| Operator: | NMBS/SNCB |
| Trainlength: | 44.4m (145.7feet) to 46.575abbr=onNaNabbr=on, depending on series |
| Width: | 2.781-2NaN-2 to 3-2NaN-2, depending on series |
| Height: | 3.767-2NaN-2 to 4.4-2NaN-2, depending on series |
| Doors: | AM39: Sliding doors Rest: Pneumatic folding doors4 per side (excl. baggage door) |
| Maxspeed: | 130km/h |
| Weight: | 98.5t to 117t, depending on series |
| Poweroutput: | , depending on series |
| Electricsystem: | 3000 V DC 1500 V DC (Netherlands) Catenary |
| Collectionmethod: | Pantograph |
| Uicclass: | (A1)(1A) + (A1)(1A) |
| Safety: | TBL1+ (units 642 and up) |
| Coupling: | Henricot semi automatic coupler |
| Multipleworking: | Within class (all series are interoperable) and with AM75 |
NMBS/SNCB Classical twin EMUs (also referred by their construction year - AM50 for "Automotrice 1950" up to AM79 for the last units from 1979) (or MS50 to MS79 for the Dutch-language equivalent "Motorstel") are electric multiple unit trains operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB). They were the standard equipment for local trains under the Belgian standard 3000 Volts DC overhead lines, until gradually replaced by the Class 08 Desiro Mainline EMU's starting from the early 21st century.
Classical EMUs were originally painted in dark green, with small yellow stripes surrounding the front lights. As those were considered insufficiently visible, the front door was also painted in yellow and the stripes were enlarged.
A subset of 22 EMUs was built with stainless steel body instead of (regular) carbon steel. This remains a one shot trial as the next generations were built with carbon steel bodies.
Another subset of 6 EMUs were specifically adapted for airport service, with more space between seats and a huge luggage compartment. Although they were operated by railways staff, access was restricted to Belgian airlines travellers with a dedicated platform at Brussels Central Station. A blue paint scheme was also chosen to identify those EMUs.
In 1984, the Belgian Railways introduced a new transportation plan based on fixed-interval timetables (and the closure of many secondary passenger lines) called "Plan IC-IR." A new paint scheme was applied, based on a burgundy red color with a large white line surrounding the entire coaches or EMUs below the windows.
In 1999, classical EMUs built in the seventies were extensively refurbished, the program included comfort upgrade (interior replacement, sound system, closed circuit toilets) and repainting in the light gray livery with blue and red lines under the windows. Few units were still in the older green delivery when refurbished. The last 40 to be refurbished units received extra features (LED information displays, multi-service compartments for bicycles or standing passengers) for suburban "CityRail" service.
In 2013, a hundred non-refurbished units were scrapped, after many of the Desiro Mainline Class 08 entered into revenue service.
These EMUs are driven by four 185 kW 1500 Volts DC motors. Units built before 1970 were driven by a Jeumont-Heidmann camshaft controller. After 1970, Thyristor drive were used instead.[1] [2]
| Class | Image | Fleet numbers | Number | Top speed | Power output | Length | Mass/Weight (in tons) | Capacity | Withdrawn | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS39 | 001-008 | 8 | 130km/h | 840 kW | 43.04NaN | 14330 1st 113 2nd | 1978 | High-platform only units | |||
| MS46 | 009 | 1 | 140km/h | 830 kW | 43.3metres | 16424 1st 140 2nd | 1978 | Prototype and pseudo-highspeedunit capable of reaching 140 km/h. High-platform only unit | |||
| MS50 | 010-034 | 25 | 130km/h | 620 kW | 44.4metres | 17032 1st 138 2nd | 1995 | Almost identical to MS53. High Platform Units | |||
| MS51 | 501 Later 050 | 1 | 45.78metres | 16142 1st 119 2nd | 1978 | Later renumbered to 050, the original 050 was renumbered 062. High-platform only unit | |||||
| MS53 | 035-049 | 15 | 44.4metres | 17032 1st 138 2nd | 1995 | Almost identical to MS50. High-platform only units | |||||
| MS54 | 050-128 | 79 | 45.28metres | 18531 1st 154 2nd | 1995 | 050 was renumbered to 062 after the first 062 caught fire. 15 units were converted to mail-trains in 1988. 106 was used as a testtrain for TBL in 2004 | |||||
| MS55 | 502-539 | 38 | 45.68metres | 18145 1st 136 2nd | 1995 | ||||||
| MS56 | 129-150 | 22 | 45.28metres | 18531 1st154 2nd | 2000 | Stainless steel body, units were not painted | |||||
| MS62MS63 MS65 | 151-210 211-250 251-270 | 60 40 20 | 735 kW | 46.57metres | 18028 1st 152 2nd | 2013 | 151 was renumbered to 050 in the 90's due to test with asynchronous motors. | ||||
| MS66 MS70JH MS70TH | 601-640 641-664 665-676 | 40 24 12 | 140km/h | 770 kW | 46.61metres | N/A | From 665 on units were equipped with thyristors. In 2006–2008 all MS70TH sets, except 672, were refurbished to MSCR | ||||
| MS70 Airport | 801-806 Later 595-600 | 6 | 11832 1st 86 2nd | 2013 | Specially built for services to Brussels Airport-Zaventem, with extra luggage space. | ||||||
| MS73 MS74 MS78 MS79 | 677-706 707-730 731-756 757-782 | 30 24 26 26 | 17828 1st 150 2nd | N/A | In 2006-2008 677 to 683 and 707 to 730, except 709 and 716, were refurbished to MSCR | ||||||
| MSCR 'CityRail' | link=https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:SNCB_EMU984_R04.jpg|100x100px | 960-999 | 40 | Modernised MS70TH, MS73 and MS74 | |||||||