To work alongside the TGX, Trans Polar Rail (a ficticious passenger company operating in Scandinavia and Russia)
has taken delivery of several Orbis sets to run the high speed line between Vladivostok and Berlin, via Copenhagen,
the fact that each of the axles is powered means that these trains are able to get to the (restricted) 380km/h top
speed faster than the TGX and ICX units, (Orbis Express runs its sets at 420km/h).<br>
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having articulated axles sets means that the Orbis trains can cope with quite tight corners, despite having 5 axles
per wheel set, this is useful when traversing the Ural mountains in Russia, as the curves there are quite tight. 
Trans Polar Rail's Orbis sets are packed with technology, the two cockpits are fully electronic, CRT displays and 
Plasma screens form the displays, rather than old school dials. Passengers get reclining airliner style seats with 
headrest mounted TV screens.  <br>
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This is the second  class of single deck Orbis that Trans Polar Railways has introduced, loosing the framed windows 
in favour of space-bonded windows, this gives a cleaner appearance. <br>
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Mark Wilkes. e-mail: megazone23_uk@hotmail.com