Train types
Railcars
487 models from 168 manufacturers
Models
487
Manufacturers
168
Top speed
193 km/h
Transwa WDA
Power output
2,096 kW
ALe 841
A railcar is a single self-propelled passenger vehicle, often able to run alone or coupled with a trailer. Railcars became popular from the 1920s and 1930s on lightly used branch lines, where they were much cheaper to operate than a steam train.
Famous examples include the German Uerdingen railbus and the American Budd RDC. Many railcars in our database are powered by diesel or petrol engines, while others take their current from an overhead line.
Fastest railcars
#1 · 193 km/hUGL Rail
Transwa WDA
Railcar
2004–2005 · 193 km/h
#2 · 160 km/hPESA
610M
Railcar
2004–2005 · 160 km/h
#3 · 150 km/hOcren
ALe 540
Railcar
1955–1960 · 150 km/h
#4 · 150 km/hFiat
ALn 776
Railcar
1985–1993 · 150 km/h
#5 · 150 km/hFiat
FSE Ad 80
Railcar
1999–2000 · 150 km/h
#6 · 150 km/hBBC
RAe 4/8
Railcar
1939 · 150 km/h
#7 · 140 km/hComeng
2000 railcar
Railcar
1979–1980 · 140 km/h
#8 · 140 km/hWerkspoor
Plan mP
Railcar
1965–1966 · 140 km/h
Most powerful railcars
| Rank | Model | Built | Power output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALe 841 | 2,096 kW2,811 hp | |
| 2 | BN Be 4/4 761 | 1,472 kW1,974 hp | |
| 3 | SBB BDe 4/4 | 1,176 kW1,577 hp | |
| 4 | ABe 4/4 III | 1,016 kW1,362 hp | |
| 5 | U 825 | 940 kW1,261 hp | |
| 6 | RAe 4/8 | 835 kW1,120 hp | |
| 7 | RhB Be 4/4 | 784 kW1,051 hp | |
| 8 | 630M | 770 kW1,033 hp | |
| 9 | SOB ABe 4/4 | 735 kW986 hp | |
| 10 | FNB El2 | 720 kW966 hp |
