DB Class 420
German S-Bahn train type
title: "DB Class 420" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["electric-multiple-units-of-germany", "electric-multiple-units-of-sweden", "15-kv-ac-multiple-units", "train-related-introductions-in-1967", "3-car-emus"] description: "German S-Bahn train type" topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_420" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary German S-Bahn train type ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox train"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Class 420 / SL X420 |
| image | File:Wiesbaden- Bahnhof Wiesbaden Ost- auf Bahnsteig zu Gleis 3- Richtung Mainz- S-Bahn Rhein-Main 420 757-7 26.6.2010.jpg |
| imagesize | 300px |
| caption | A Class 420 train at Wiesbaden Ost station in June 2010 |
| manufacturer | LHB, MBB, Orenstein & Koppel, Uerdingen, Waggon Union |
| yearconstruction | 1967–1997 |
| numberbuilt | 1,440 vehicles (480 sets) |
| numberpreserved | 16 vehicles |
| successor | DB Class 423, DBAG Class 430 |
| formation | 3 cars per trainset |
| fleetnumbers | 420 001–420 390; 420 400–420 489 |
| operator | Deutsche Bundesbahn |
| Deutsche Bahn | |
| Storstockholms Lokaltrafik | |
| lines | {{Plainlist |
| carbody | Aluminium, steel |
| trainlength | 67,400 mm |
| width | 2,900 mm |
| floorheight | 1,000 mm |
| doors | 4 pairs per side |
| maxspeed | 120 km/h |
| weight | 139,8 t (with steel end cars) |
| 129 t, 135 t | |
| poweroutput | 2400 kW |
| acceleration | 1.0 m/s2 |
| deceleration | 0.9 m/s2 |
| electricsystem | 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC overhead line |
| collectionmethod | Single-arm pantograph |
| brakes | Resistor brake, air-disc brake |
| spring-accumulator brake (from 7. batch onwards) | |
| safety | ATP (SL X420) |
| LZB (Munich S-Bahn) | |
| gauge | |
| notes | Sources: |
| :: |
| background = | name = Class 420 / SL X420 | image = File:Wiesbaden- Bahnhof Wiesbaden Ost- auf Bahnsteig zu Gleis 3- Richtung Mainz- S-Bahn Rhein-Main 420 757-7 26.6.2010.jpg | imagealt = | imagesize = 300px | caption = A Class 420 train at Wiesbaden Ost station in June 2010 | service = | manufacturer = LHB, MBB, Orenstein & Koppel, Uerdingen, Waggon Union | designer = | assembly = | factory = | yearconstruction = 1967–1997 | yearservice = | refurbishment = | yearscrapped = | numberbuilt = 1,440 vehicles (480 sets) | numberservice = | numberpreserved = 16 vehicles | numberscrapped = | successor = DB Class 423, DBAG Class 430 | formation = 3 cars per trainset | fleetnumbers = 420 001–420 390; 420 400–420 489 | capacity = | operator = Deutsche Bundesbahn Deutsche Bahn Storstockholms Lokaltrafik | depots = | lines = {{Plainlist|
- Munich S-Bahn network
- Stuttgart S-Bahn network
- Rhine-Main S-Bahn network
- Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn network
- Stockholms pendeltåg | carbody = Aluminium, steel | trainlength = 67,400 mm | carlength = | width = 2,900 mm | height = | floorheight = 1,000 mm | entrylevelorstep = | doors = 4 pairs per side | wheeldiameter = | wheelbase = | maxspeed = 120 km/h | weight = 139,8 t (with steel end cars) 129 t, 135 t | axleload = | traction = | poweroutput = 2400 kW | tractiveeffort = | transmission = | acceleration = 1.0 m/s2 | deceleration = 0.9 m/s2 | aux = | hvac = | electricsystem = 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC overhead line | collectionmethod = Single-arm pantograph | bogies = | minimum curve = | brakes = Resistor brake, air-disc brake spring-accumulator brake (from 7. batch onwards) | safety = ATP (SL X420) LZB (Munich S-Bahn) | coupling = | multipleworking = | gauge = | notes = Sources:
The Class 420 () is a commuter electric multiple unit train type in service on German S-Bahn networks since 1972. Their use in Munich during the 1972 Summer Olympics earned them the colloquial name Olympiatriebwagen (Olympic multiple unit).
Design
Livery variations
Each of the three prototype sets received a different livery. 420 001 had an orange and white livery, 420 002 had a blue and white livery, and 420 003 wine-red and white livery. A public poll over the livery of the S-Bahn trains was held in Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf. Munich received blue trains, Düsseldorf chose orange and Frankfurt also received orange liveried trains due to economic reasons, despite opting for the red livery.
Units used on Munich S-Bahn services to the airport received a light blue livery.
All units still in service were repainted into the traffic-red livery.
File:DB 420 (14.09.1985).jpg|Munich S-Bahn 420 in blue and white livery File:DB 420 001 bright.jpg|Prototype set 420 001 in orange and white livery File:Frankfurt am Main- Bahnhof Frankfurt (Main) Ostendstraße- auf Bahnsteig zu Gleis 2- Richtung Bahnhof Frankfurt (Main) Süd (S-Bahn Rhein-Main 420 316-2) 16.6.2012.jpg|S-Bahn Rhein-Main 420 316 in the traffic red livery
Interior
Passenger accommodation consists of transverse seating bays in a 2+2 layout, with longitudinal folding seats at the luggage area in one of the end cars.
File:BR 420 Innenraum (Rhein-Main).jpg|Interior of a S-Bahn Rhein-Main train File:BR 420 Innenraum modernisiert.jpg|Interior of a refurbished train
420Plus
Between April 2005 and January 2006, two trains (420 400 and 420 416) received an experimental refurbishment at DB Krefeld-Oppum works, and were branded as "420Plus". Changes to the interior included new seating, the addition of air conditioning and windows in the inner car ends, passenger information displays and push-button door openers. Entry into passenger service followed in April 2006.
File:Et420plus 420400.jpg|420 400 in May 2006 File:Et420plus innenraum.jpg|Interior of a 420Plus unit
Technical specifications
Formation
Each unit consists of three cars. The end cars are designated as class 420, and the intermediate cars are designated as class 421. They are equipped with couplers enabling operation of up to three units together.
::data[format=table]
| cab car | intermediate car | cab car | Numbering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 420 xxx | 421 xxx | 420 xxx | |
| +500 | |||
| :: |
Car body
The car bodies of the end cars are made out of steel. The intermediate cars have aluminium car bodies. Beginning with the 2. batch units, the car body construction of the end cars was changed from steel to aluminium, in order to save weight.
Electric systems
The electrical equipment was built by AEG, Brown-Boveri, and Siemens. They are the first DB trains that were equipped with thyristor-phase control. Each bogie is fitted with two mixed current commutator motors. The current of the traction motors is controlled steplessly over two asymmetrical semi-controlled rectifier bridges in sequence.
History
Munich
The first unit was presented in Munich on October 30, 1969. Entry into service on the Munich S-Bahn was in May 1972. The last original Munich S-Bahn units were withdrawn in December 2004.
15 refurbished former S-Bahn Stuttgart sets entered service on the Munich S-Bahn network in 2014. 21 further trains are scheduled to enter service in Munich, in order to reduce the shortage of rolling stock due to the refurbishment of Class 423 trains. These former Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn units will be fitted with Linienzugbeeinflussung (LZB), which enables them to run on the Stammstrecke.
File:Baureihe 420 München.jpg|420 961 arrives at Munich Heimeranplatz in 2023 File:420 001 Gauting 1970.png|420 001 and another unidentified set at Gauting during trials, 1970
Stuttgart
The trains entered service on the Stuttgart S-Bahn network in 1978.
The last trains (420 450 and 420 461) were withdrawn from Stuttgart S-Bahn services after an official farewell run from Plochingen to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof on November 4, 2016, followed by five scheduled public farewell runs on the same day.
Frankfurt and Rhine-Main area
The trains entered service in the Rhine-Main area in April 1978.
The last trains were withdrawn from Frankfurt/Rhein-Main S-Bahn services in November 2014.
Cologne and Rhine-Ruhr area
Class 420 trains entered service in the Rhine-Ruhr area in May 1974. The trains had smoking and non-smoking cars.
Stockholm
In 2003, 15 sets were lent to Storstockholms Lokaltrafik for use on Pendeltåg services around Stockholm. These SL Class X420 trains underwent modifications, which included changes to the cabs, the addition of Swedish Automatic Train Control, and boards to cope with the lower platform heights in Stockholm. The trains were scrapped after their withdrawal.
File:X420 065 Södra Järnvägsbron,Stockholm 2004-10-21.jpg|A X420 train in Stockholm in October 2004
Preserved examples
Five units and one end car are preserved in various museums.
- 420 001: Prototype set, preserved at the DB Museum in Nuremberg
- 420 002: Prototype end car 420 002, preserved at the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum in Munich
- 420 298: Former S-Bahn Stuttgart / S-Bahn Rhein-Main unit, preserved by Oberhessische Eisenbahnfreunde in Gießen
- 420 300: First unit for the Stuttgart S-Bahn network, preserved at the Eisenbahn-Erlebniswelt in Horb am Neckar
- 420 400: Refurbished 420Plus unit, preserved at the Eisenbahn-Erlebniswelt in Horb am Neckar
- 420 416: Refurbished 420Plus unit, preserved at the DB Museum in Nuremberg
Additionally, one cab end is preserved as a driving simulator.
File:DB BR 420 002-8, Blau-Weiß-Lackierung - (DE) Deutsches Verkehrsmuseum München - 26.04.2014 (14205600153).jpg|End car 420 002 at the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum in Munich File:2019-10-21 Umbau Bahnhof Cottbus, grand opening of Bahnhofsvorplatz (train simulator).jpg|Cab end with driving simulator File:Train at the DB Museum Nürnberg October 2015.jpg|420Plus at the DB Museum in Nuremberg
References
References
- Winfried, Reinhardt. (2018). "Öffentlicher Personennahverkehr: Technik – rechts- und betriebswirtschaftliche Grundlagen". Springer-Verlag.
- Pabst, Martin. (2006). "S-Bahn- und U-Bahn-Fahrzeuge in Deutschland". GeraMond.
- (2005). "Jane's Train Recognition Guide". HarperCollins.
- Durchdenwald, Thomas. (November 4, 2016). "Letztes Signal für ET 420: Ende einer Ära". [[Stuttgarter Zeitung]].
- Völklein, Marco. (December 29, 2016). "Münchner S-Bahn in Nürnberg abgestellt". [[Süddeutsche Zeitung]].
- (May 27, 2018). "Vor 40 Jahren fuhr die S-Bahn erstmals aus Frankfurt raus". [[Frankfurter Neue Presse]].
- Völklein, Marco. (October 6, 2014). "Wie alte Züge aufgemöbelt werden". [[Süddeutsche Zeitung]].
- Steinbacher, Ulrike. (January 10, 2018). "Die Strategie der Überbrückung". [[Süddeutsche Zeitung]].
- . (November 1, 2016). ["S-Bahnen ET 420 auf letzter Fahrt"](https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.nahverkehr-in-der-region-stuttgart-s-bahnen-et-420-auf-letzter-fahrt.6cf5def2-0699-4bcd-a8a1-16aafabfd562.html). *[[Stuttgarter Zeitung]]*.
- . (October 31, 2014). ["S-Bahn-Oldtimer nimmt Abschied"](http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/nachrichten/indexhessen34938.jsp?rubrik=36082&key=standard_document_53430421). *[[Hessischer Rundfunk]]*.
- (November 5, 2014). "Der ET 420 hat ausgedient – eine Geschichte von bedeutender Infrastruktur in einem Ballungsraum ist zu Ende". PRO BAHN Landesverband Hessen e.V..
- (August 30, 2015). "Vor 50 Jahren: Land NRW und Deutsche Bahn vereinbaren Einführung der S-Bahn". Atelier Goral GmbH.
- Hondius, Harry. (September 1, 2003). "Pendeltåg X60 EMU takes shape". Railway Gazette.
- Walter, Dirk. (February 7, 2013). "S-Bahn will Uralt-Züge aus Stuttgart holen". [[Münchner Merkur]].
- "420 298 - Elektrischer Triebzug". Oberhessische Eisenbahnfreunde e.V.
- Sannert, Doris. (October 20, 2011). "S-Bahn-Geschichte im Triebwagen". Schwarzwälder Bote Mediengesellschaft mbH.
- "Baureihe 420". Schienenverkehrsgesellschaft mbH (SVG).
- "ET 420 416 mit Sonderausstattung (420Plus)". Deutsche Bahn Stiftung.
- . (October 30, 2016). ["Faszination Bahnhof"](https://www.dewezet.de/region/hameln_artikel,-faszination-bahnhof-_arid,2322463.html). *Deister- und Weserzeitung*.
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