BLS RABe 528

BLS RABe 528
Silver train with green accents BLS No. 105 at Burgdorf in 2022
Purple-upholstered seats Second class seating area
In service	2021–present
Manufacturer	Stadler Rail
Number built	58
Fleet numbers	101–130 (RegioExpress) 201–228 (S-Bahn)
Capacity	275 seated + 200 standees
Operators	BLS AG
Specifications
Train length	104,900 mm (344.2 ft)
Width	2,880 mm (9.45 ft)
Height	4,260 mm (13.98 ft)
Articulated sections	6
Maximum speed	160 km/h (99 mph)
Electric system(s)	15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
UIC classification	Bo’Bo’2’2'2’Bo’Bo’
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Notes/references

The BLS RABe 528, also known as MIKA, is a class of passenger electric multiple unit manufactured by Stadler Rail for BLS AG. It is a derivative of the Stadler FLIRT and began entering service in 2021. It is comparable to the Traverso of Südostbahn.

History

BLS AG ordered 58 trainsets from Stadler Rail in 2017 at a cost of CHF 650 million. BLS planned to use the trains on Bern S-Bahn services and on longer RegioExpress services. The RABe 528 will replace locomotive-hauled Einheitswagen III coaches and the RBDe 565 and RBDe 565 multiple units. The first trains entered service on 10 May 2021 on the InterRegio 66 between Bern and Neuchâtel.

Design

Each formation is composed of six cars, with a maximum seating capacity of 275. They can accommodate another 200 standees. Altogether the formation is 104,900 mm (344 ft 1+15⁄16 in) long. Cars are 2,880 mm (9 ft 5+3⁄8 in) wide and 4,260 mm (13 ft 11+11⁄16 in) tall. The design speed is 160 km/h (99 mph). There are different internal layouts for longer-distance trains compared to S-Bahn trains but they are mechanically identical.

Naming

File:528 119 Domodossola.jpg

RABe 528 119 is named after Domodossola, Italy

It is common customs for Swiss railway companies to name their locomotives (e.g. SBB Re 620, BLS Re 465) and MUs (e.g. SBB RABe 501, SOB RABe 526, BLS RABe 515, BLS RABe 525). Ten BLS RABe 528 are named after communes in the Swiss cantons of Bern, Lucerne and Neuchâtel, while two additional ones are named after communes in the Italian state of Piedmont. Each train bears the commune's coat of arms (COA) below the driver's window. The list below contains only named trainsets with their respective number (№). As of 2025, RABe 528 110 has a special livery of Kambly.

№	COA	Name		№	COA	Name		№	COA	Name
528 101	File:Wappen Luzern matt.svg	Luzern		528 114	File:CHE Frutigen COA.svg	Frutigen		528 120	File:CHE Wimmis COA.svg	Wimmis
528 104	File:CHE Entlebuch COA.png	Entlebuch		528 012	File:Gemeindewappen-Brig-Glis.gif	Brig-Glis		528 122	File:CHE Erlenbach im Simmental COA.svg	Erlenbach im Simmental
528 110	File:CHE Trubschachen COA.svg	Trubschachen		528 118		Commune di Varzo		528 123	File:CHE Boltigen COA.svg	Boltigen
528 111	File:CHE La Chaux-de-Fonds COA.svg	La Chaux-de-Fonds		528 119	File:Domodossola-Stemma.svg	Città di Domodossola		528 202	File:CHE Neuenegg COA.svg	Neuenegg

External links

• Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• RABe 528 – «MIKA» – The future has begun
• Technical drawing