DBAG Class 641
| Company type | Diesel multiple unit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Products | Alstom Coradia A TER series railcars |
| Parent | Deutsche Bahn |
The DBAG Class 641 (VT641) is a diesel multiple unit operated by Deutsche Bahn, belonging to the Alstom Coradia A TER series. This model was collaboratively developed by Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, and the manufacturers De Dietrich Ferroviaire along with Linke-Hofmann-Busch—both subsidiaries of Alstom. Deutsche Bahn received a total of forty units, with four withdrawn from service following accidents.
The railcar is characterized by its centre buffer couplings, dual engines located in front of the bogies, a uniquely rounded body shape, and expansive single-piece swinging doors, earning it the nickname Walfisch (Whale).
These units operate on regional lines within Baden-Württemberg, specifically on the Hochrhein route between Basel Badischer Bahnhof and Lauchringen, as well as in the Thuringia region near Erfurt. Notable routes include the Schwarzatalbahn (Rottenbach–Katzhütte), Pfefferminzbahn (Sömmerda–Großheringen), the Friedrichroda railway (Friedrichroda–Fröttstädt), the line from Saalfeld to Blankenstein, and the Gotha–Gräfenroda railway.
Additional Alstom Coradia A TER units were delivered from Reichshoffen to French operator SNCF and Luxembourg's CFL. SNCF classifies these as ATER 73500. For cross-border services between Germany and France, nineteen units were acquired under the designation ATER 73900, including two vehicles (73914 and 73915) financed by Saarland and finished in traffic red livery. The deployment of these railcars on new routes was updated as recently as 2018.
See also
- List of Deutsche Bahn AG locomotives and railbuses
- SNCF Class X 73500
- SNCF Class X 73900
- Alstom Coradia LINT