Double Decker Sleeper Cars Types WLABm 171 and WLBm 172

The double decker sleeper cars type BA 171 and 172 were designed for the night express hotel train concept of DACH Hotelzug AG, a joint subsidiary of DB, ÖBB and SBB, with 1st and 2nd class double decker sleeper cars. The Hotelzug (hotel train) Joint Venture consisting of Schindler Waggon AG in Altenrhein, Simmering-Graz-Pauker (SGP) in Graz, Talbot in Achen and the consortium Wagon Ausrüstung Hotelzug (KWH) was engaged to build the sleeper cars. The cars were built between 1992 and 1995 in Switzerland, Germany and Austria and were designed and approved for a maximum speed of 200 km/h in these three countries. In the cars the requirements for quiet running, comfort and ease of use for passengers were carefully balanced and realised.

The double-decker design is unusual in sleeper cars travelling across borders. Over two levels on one side of the car there are compartments each with two berths in a bunk bed arrangement. On the other side of the car there is a corridor from which the upper and lower compartments can be accessed via stairs.

On the ground floor in the middle of the car there is a plant room housing technical equipment like input transformer, throttle and parts of the air conditioning system, while the following equipment, among other things, is installed underneath the side corridor: On-board battery, battery charger, 24V fuse board, brake equipment panel, 230V and 600V fuse board, HV mounting plate, train busbar, step-up converter, inverter cooling, inverter auxiliary systems and power supply block.

Two types of car were built based on the same railcar body.

• The 1st and 2nd class WLABm car originally had 13 compartments in the double-decker area and 2 compartments at side corridor level. 11 of the compartments are 2nd class and four are first class. A total of 34 beds/seats are available. The 1st class compartments have two sleeping berths with a shower unit and WC. The 2nd class compartments have two sleeping berths and washing facilities. The car has two shared/public toilets and a service compartment with coffee machine, dishwasher, microwave oven, convection oven and fridge
  
  
• The 2nd class WLBm car originally had 17 compartments in the double-decker area and 3 compartments at side corridor level with a total of 44 beds or seats. The compartments are equipped with washing facilities. Unlike the WLABm there are no en-suite toilets in the compartments, only at the ends of the car.

The cars, which have air-sprung bogies, offer a high level of travel comfort and have good thermal and sound insulation. There is good sound insulation between the compartments. The cars are air conditioned in accordance with UIC MB 553.

In the 1st class compartments there is room for a table and chairs as well as for the beds. In the 2nd class compartments the beds can be folded up when not in use and replaced by comfortable bench seats.

The shower and washing facilities have a pressurized water supply and temperature control at the outlet.

DACH Hotelzug AG subsequently sold the cars to SBB, ÖBB and CityNightline CNL AG of Deutsche Bahn. During operation from 1995 onwards, the compartment layouts and configurations in both types of railcar were partially adapted to customer requirements. Some rail vehicles were also converted from operation with 1000V 16.7Hz or 50Hz to multiple-voltage capability (1000V 16.7Hz, 1500V 50Hz) or multiple system capability (1000V 16.7Hz, 1500V 50Hz, DC3000V, DC1500V)

Photographs of Fist and Second Class DoSto Roomette WLABm Type 171

View of the sleeping coach at the platform.       The compartments in the centre of the roomette are arranged in two levels, at the ends on the                                                                                   intermediate height of the corridor

The corridor of the double-deck sleeping           Photograph: Heinz Lahs

car runs at intermediate height.

Pictures of Second Class WLBm 172 Bi-Level Sleeping Car