The second day of the first test runs of the brandnew highspeed train "EC 250" (designation Stadler Rail) or "Giruno" (designation of the SBB) RABe 501 001. Many photographers enjoyed the elegant new train from trackside this morning when it circulated between Sulgen and Romanshorn on the Thurtal line. The articulated 11 car train is between Romanshorn and Amriswil, below one of the oldest overhead wire system of the SBB. The name "Giruno" is an artificial word formed from the common buzzard in rhaeto-romanic (girùn) and an italian "o" in the end. The train for 15000 V 16,7 Hz AC, 25000 V 50 Hz AC and 3000 V DC has a maxium power of 6000 kW, has 405 seats and a dining car, is 202 meter long and the max. velocity is 250 km/h. The SBB ordered 29 of this first swiss built highspeed train for the traffic via Gotthard and Ceneri Base Tunnel to Italy.
Acela (US), TGV (FR), Velaro (Ger, although there are British, Chinese and Russian versions as well)
There are other systems, such as the Japanese Shinkansen.
