RA1 (railbus)

Only three copies of this bus were issued for the first 4 years of production (1997-2002). First unit was operated in motor-car depot South-Eastern Railway since August 2000. Second one entered the Kaliningrad Railway after testing at the experimental ring in Shcherbinka in June 2002. The third unit design documentation was developed, but release of unit was heavily delayed. The first and second "railbuses" had imported diesel engine and hydraulic transmission on board. The third unit designed for domestic nodes installation. All unitscopies had design different from each other. The first copy of RA1 was originally released with a Scharfenberg automatic coupler (metro coupler) and high footrests. Further, this coupler was replaced by an automatic coupler "SA-3". Third unit was sent for Dubna city operations. There was a break in 2004–2005, because the rail buses went into series and became entering to many roads of the rail network by small lots. No less than 38 RA1 rail buses have been manufactured at October 2005. The number was reached 91 units (excluding export and metro versions) at the end of 2006. Plus 41 export units and some machines for the domestic metro. . == References ==