FLIRT stands for " Fast Light Innovative Regional Train). Built by the firm Stadler Rail, this regional train has been introduced in June 2004. Originally conceived only for Switzerland, its success is such that over 400 trains have been sold throughout Europe and even North Africa (Algeria).

The model designed by Liliput is the version of the SBB RABe 523. The Swiss company ordered 19 FLIRT for the RER (Regional Express Network) for the canton of Vaud (located partly along the shore of the Geneva Lake called also Leman Lake by the Swiss people). The train produced by Liliput is one of those 19 exemplars. It is called "La Veveyse" (from the name of a river going through the town of Vevey. This picturesque city is especially known in the USA to have welcomed Charlie Chaplin. Charlot lived in this region until his death). The FLIRT "La Veveyse" runs between Lausanne and Villeneuve.

The FLIRT is of modular design and comes in 2-6 parts depending on the railway companies requirements. Key features of the FLIRT are its impressive acceleration, powerful braking force and low weight. Its maximum speed is 160 km/h (about 99.42 miles / hour).

The FLIRT model is also modular in its design. It comes in three parts. The unit A and B are completely assembled and ready for use. The middle cars (units C and D) are already connected via the boogie and must be connected to units A and B. Units A and B have each a motor. However only Unit A has an ESU decoder and can be driven individually for test purpose. The motor of Unit B runs only when all the units are connected.

Often criticized as difficult, I found that the coupling of the units is really easy if done carefully. Just plug two 11-pin socket and assure the coupling with a few screws. There are actually two downsides: when assembled, you have to grab the train at both ends and transports it to the tracks. The second downside is that the construction is entirely made of plastic. Because of this, I wouldn't recommend to disassemble the train too often. I will probably buy a show case to avoid this problem.

This said, this model is stunning. I was pretty skeptical when I read good reviews about it. I had this bad experience in the nineties with this shuttle train called NPZ or, sometimes, "Colibri". The design was faulty, the engine weak and the transmission horrendous.

Liliput design is pretty close to the prototype as far as I can say. The motorization is as powerful as the prototype. I tried this train at extremely great speed and it never derailed. The articulation between the cars is well done and is pretty close from the original. The decoder is an ESU Lokpilot 3.0 and allows a really fine tune-up. Each car is lit and of course has interiors.

The model Liliput number L133998 (it's also done for DC with decoder or not) is only deliverable in Switzerland. I bought mine in Lausanne and it took about six weeks to arrive to California. I paid 456 Swiss francs without the shipping. A bit expensive maybe but worth the value.

Front Unit


Detail of the front unit


Name of the FLIRT


Entry door and inside


Detail of the roof front unit


Rear unit


Pierre

Edited by moderator 25 January 2011 19:27:26(UTC)  | Reason: Model number added to topic header.

COld be one to put on the Nice to Have List.

NN

I love this FLIRT..
I have been strike by this illness called Liliput 'FLIRT"

Is the Flirt and the Thurbo the same vehicle?

Robert

Hello Robert and Jeremy:

No, they are not the same. FLIRT is a vehicle and a type of train, whereas Thurbo is a acronym for a company owned by the National Swiss Railways. Thurbo can use a FLIRT, but FLIRT is not only owned by Thurbo but also by many other companies


For more information, you might have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THURBO and here http://www.thurbo.ch/

Regards,

Pierre

Hi,

I *just* bought one (2hrs ago) and it was the last one available in the shop. (www.new-modelisme.ch, btw).
I bought the L133998 AC model.

I do have a question, though. I have a Maerklin AC mfx setup (Mobile Station II and, soon, CS2) and this loco manual says I need to set DIP switches to one of 4 modes:

- AC
- AC STOP
- DCC
- DCC STOP

I understand the first 2 are analog AC and, to work with my digital setup, I need to pick one of the other 2, correct?
However, what is DCC STOP? Never heard of that before.

Thank you,
-Acacio

@Acacio,
I have been using my Flirts with my 6021 controller with no need to modify any of the settings (dip switches). I believe that the decoder is factory set for AC operation to select power from the front slider.

Have you had any problems using your train?

Regards

Mike C

Je suis ce que l'on appelle un Suisse de l’étranger. J'ai un peu perdu contact avec la mère patrie. Have a look at this link CH club train miniature. You have one in Peseux, and another one in La Chaux-de-Fonds. When I was living in Switzerland, I was staying in Yverdon-les-Bains, not far indeed from Neuchâtel.

The shop keeper was right in insisting in your reading the manual: you could damage the train by a faulty assembly. I have this shuttle for about one and half year, and it works like a charm. I am going soon to Switzerland for vacations and I am already debating if I would buy the Liliput Domino shuttle or the LS models TEE.

Cheers

Pierre