Fleischmann - 814483 - Passenger Car, UIC, Type Z - SNCF - 61 87 29-70 939-3

Specific Item Information: Declassified 1st class VSE coach

Model Information: This generic body style comprises 1^st class (A), 2^nd class (B), mixed 1^st/2^nd class (AB) or restaurant (WR) cars of type UIC-Z, used by several continental European railroads. Covers Epoch IV to present.
Can be equipped with internal lighting ref. 946901

Prototype History: The UIC (Union International des Chemins de fer) type Z or Eurofima coach (French: Voiture Standard Européenne (VSE) - European Standard Coach ) is a type of passenger car designed for use on international railway routes in Europe. It was commissioned by the EUROFIMA , short for Europäischen Gesellschaft zur Finanzierung von Eisenbahnmaterial (European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock).
EUROFIMA is a supranational organization located in Basel, Switzerland. It was established in 1956 based on an international treaty signed by 25 European sovereign States so far. It fulfils a non-profit maximizing mission to support the development of rail transportation in Europe.

More than 500 Eurofima coaches have been built by various manufacturers, for the following original acquirers:

• Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB): 25 Amoz and 75 Bmoz;
• Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB): 100 Avmz 207 first class;
• Ferrovie dello Stato (FS): 30 Az and 70 Bz;
• French National Railway Corporation (SNCF): 100 A9u;
• National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS-SNCB): 20 A9 and 60 B11;
• Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS): 20 Am 61 85 19-90.

With a standard length of 26.4 m (86' 7-3/8"), they are qualified for 160 km/h or 200 km/h depending on the bogie arrangement. First class coaches are of type A, and Second class of type B. The cars were painted in Eurofima-C1 livery (orange with light gray stripe), except for the DB and the large majority of the SNCF, the latter being painted with the Corail livery.

SNCF sold part of its Eurofima cars to Morocco ONCF and ÖBB to Czech ČD.
In the 1990's and 2000's, new cars based on the UIC-Z specification were built for Poland (PKP), Hungary (MÁV), Romania (CFR) and Czech Republic (ČD).

From Wikipedia (in German)

Road Name History: SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français; "National society of French railways" or "French National Railway Company") is France's national state-owned railway company and manages the rail traffic in France and the Principality of Monaco. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network. Its functions include operation of railway services for passengers and freight, and maintenance and signalling of rail infrastructure.

SNCF employs more than 180,000 people in 120 countries around the globe. The railway network consists of about 32,000 km (20,000 mi) of route, of which 1,800 km (1,100 mi) are high-speed lines and 14,500 km (9,000 mi) electrified. About 14,000 trains are operated daily. The company has its headquarters in Saint Denis (93200), near Paris, 2 place aux Etoiles.

In 2010 SNCF was ranked 22nd in France and 214th globally on the Fortune Global 500 list.

It is the main business of the SNCF group, which in 2014 employed 245,763 people and had 27.2 billion € of sales in 120 countries.

From Wikipedia

Brand/Importer Information: As a high-quality company we set the standard when it comes to prototype fidelity and functionality. Our aim is to enthrall novices and experts alike and to be the enduring long-term partner for a fascinating hobby that spans all generations. We achieve this with the true-to-detail design and the reliability of our models and with innovations that offer a new dimension in the play value and fun factor. The high commitment to quality that has characterised Fleischmann for more than 125 years has ensured our company?s position as an internationally leading brand for model railways.

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