Key takeaways
- Barely distinguishable from outside: the Norwegian FLIRT Types 73, 74 and 75 are closely related – the marking decides.
- The interior as an extra clue: share of seats, standing space and luggage areas reveal the market segment a variant was procured for.
- An articulated train remains an articulated train: fewer bogies than car sections is the most robust family feature.
- 15 kV / 16.7 Hz: Norway runs on the same electrification system as Germany, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland.
- No sightings in Germany: the type is tied to the Norwegian network.
Contents
Fact file
| Vehicle type | Electric multiple unit |
|---|---|
| Naming system | “Type 74” – Norwegian multiple units carry “Type” plus a number |
| Short form | BM 74, from Norwegian “motorvogn” for power car |
| Vehicle family | Stadler FLIRT |
| Design principle | Articulated train with Jacobs bogies between the car sections |
| Electrification system | 15 kV / 16.7 Hz AC |
| Track gauge | 1435 mm standard gauge |
| Related types | closely adjacent type numbers 73 and 75 |
| Country of operation | Norway – no regular service in Germany |
| UIC country code | 76 (Norway) |
Identifying features
Is this really the class in front of you?
- Marking Type 74 or BM 74 plus a running number – the decisive feature
- Articulated design with fewer bogies than car sections
- Fixed unit with a pantograph, no separate locomotive
- Wide, open gangways between the car sections
- Interior layout as a clue to the market segment: share of seats, luggage areas, standing space
- Snowplough and winter equipment at the front
Updated: August 2026 – Two Norwegian multiple units side by side at the platform, both articulated trains, both in the same livery – and yet two different types. The Type 74 is one of the FLIRT types that can barely be told apart from the outside. This page shows you how to still arrive at an unambiguous identification.
With similar types, the number counts
Log the type and running number right there on the spot – afterwards it's impossible to reconstruct which variant it was.
What is the Type 74, alias BM74?
The Type 74 is an electric multiple unit for the Norwegian network from the Stadler FLIRT family. In the country’s system, multiple units carry the word “Type” and a sequential number, while locomotives carry an abbreviation for their traction type. The short form BM 74 derives from the Norwegian word “motorvogn” for power car and refers to the same vehicle. In passenger service, the type runs for the state railway Vy, which was called NSB until 2019.
What makes it special is its neighbours: the Type 73 and the Type 75 are two more closely related types in the same numbering. Consecutive type numbers like these usually denote variants procured for different market segments – for example with a different interior layout, while the exterior remains almost identical.
How to tell closely related types apart anyway
There’s no trick that replaces the marking. But there is an order of steps that quickly leads you to the right answer and that works even when the train is already pulling out again.
Establish the category
Fixed unit with a pantograph and "Type" plus a number: that rules out locomotives and diesel vehicles. It takes two seconds.
Check the design principle
Fewer bogies than car sections means an articulated train. That puts you at FLIRT or Talent – two families instead of seven types.
Photograph the marking
Now speed counts. A sharp picture of the number is more important than a nice picture of the train – you can evaluate it later.
The interior as extra information
If you get on board: share of seats, standing space and luggage areas reveal which market segment the variant is intended for. A clue, not proof.
The basic method – from coarse to fine, observation before source – is described in the guide to identifying rolling-stock classes.
The most common mistake with travel sightings
You note the type and forget the running number. With closely related types, the sighting is then not just incomplete but potentially assigned wrongly – and can't be corrected afterwards.
Where it fits in operations
Norway electrifies at 15 kV at 16.7 Hz, the same system as Germany, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland. That’s why European multiple-unit families could be adopted there without fundamental redesign. What differs is not the traction technology but the environment the vehicles have to cope with.
| Factor | Effect on the vehicle | Visible to you? |
|---|---|---|
| Snow and drifts | sturdy snowploughs, protected openings | yes, at the front |
| Low temperatures | heated windows, doors and footsteps | indirectly, on ice-free surfaces |
| Long gradients | traction designed for continuous load | no |
| Many tunnels | interior and pressure design | partly, while travelling |
| Winter grime | illegible markings | yes, and very relevant in practice |
The last row is why design-principle features are so valuable: they work even when the number disappears under a layer of grime. In the winter half-year that’s not the exception but the norm – and anyone trained only on markings is left without a tool. If you want to know what’s currently running where, combine your own observations with current reports – how that works in practice is shown in the guide to live sightings and real-time data.
Missing type numbers at a glance
With a well-kept logbook you can see straight away which Norwegian type you're still missing – and plan your trip accordingly.
Quick identification: which Norwegian multiple unit is that?
Narrow down a Norwegian multiple unit
Modern articulated train
FLIRT or Talent design, so Types 72 to 75. Now the digit in the marking decides exactly which type it is – note it together with the running number.
Older multiple-unit type
Two bogies per car and separate gangways point to an older generation. The type number is then more likely to be in the lower part of the numbering.
Loco-hauled train
An abbreviation such as El or Di and separate coaches mean: locomotive, not a multiple unit. That rules out all the Type designs.
Photo tips for Norwegian multiple units
Two pictures per sighting
One of the marking, one of the whole unit. Together they're complete evidence, individually often not.
Watch out for reflections
Smooth bodysides reflect platform canopies and the sky. One step to the side changes more than any amount of editing.
Plan for northern light
In winter it stays twilight for a long time, in summer the sun is low. Both give long, soft light – but only at certain times of day.
The basic technique from viewpoint to shutter speed is covered in the guide to good photos of trains.
Safety on the platform
Tracks, operational railway land and stabling areas are off limits – abroad just as at home. The platform edge or safety line is the boundary. In winter, snow often covers it, and meltwater makes the surface slippery: keep noticeably more distance than usual in that case.
Common mix-ups
It points to a Type 74 if …
- the bodyside reads "Type 74" or "BM 74" plus a running number
- it's an articulated train with a pantograph
- the gangways are wide and permanently connected
- the line is electrified
Look more closely if …
- you can't read the second digit of the type number with certainty
- two visually identical units are running coupled together
- the marking is covered by snow or dirt
It's not a Type 74 if …
- each car has two bogies of its own
- a standalone locomotive is pulling the train
- the marking gives a different type number
The most likely mistake is confusing it with the neighbouring Type 75. Much easier to tell apart is the airport express Type 71, which already stands out through its own distinctive branding.
Verdict
The Type 74 is a vehicle that forces you to work cleanly – and that’s exactly where its value for spotters lies. Where types barely differ outwardly, discipline decides: establish the category, check the design principle, photograph the marking, note the running number. If you stick to that, at the end of a trip to Norway you’ll have a sighting list that is genuinely accurate.
In short
Articulated train, pantograph, marking Type 74: that's what identification looks like. With the neighbouring FLIRT types, a record shot of the number matters more than any memory – and the interior remains a clue, not proof.
Sightings that are still accurate later
Number, photo, location and date in one entry – so it stays traceable which variant you really saw.
Summary
- The BM74 is one of the Norwegian FLIRT types and carries type number 74 in the national scheme.
- Because the neighbouring types look very similar, the marking on the bodyside is the only reliable distinguishing feature.
- The interior provides an extra clue to the market segment, but doesn't replace the number.
- Assignments to lines and operators change with service contracts – treat them as changeable.
Frequently asked questions
What does Type 74, or BM74, mean?
In Norway, multiple units carry the designation “Type” plus a number. Type 74 is therefore a distinct multiple-unit type. The widely used form BM 74 derives from the Norwegian word “motorvogn” for power car. Locomotives are designated “El” or “Di” plus a number.
How do I tell Type 74 and Type 75 apart?
Reliably only by the marking on the bodyside. Closely adjacent type numbers usually denote variants that were procured for different market segments and barely differ outwardly. The interior can be a clue – share of seats, standing space and luggage areas – but it isn't proof.
How do I recognise a FLIRT in the first place?
By its articulated design with Jacobs bogies: only one bogie sits between two car sections. From the side, count the car sections and bogies – if there are fewer bogies, you have an articulated train. That narrows down the family, but says nothing yet about the type number.
Does the BM74 run in Germany?
No, there's no regular service in Germany. You will, however, often see other FLIRT versions there. The comparison is worthwhile: same design concept, different length, different fittings, completely different designation. That's exactly how you learn to separate vehicle family and type cleanly.
Why are there no unit numbers or performance figures here?
Because public information on individual Norwegian type numbers is inconsistent. Made-up or unchecked figures would be a bigger mistake than a shorter page. What can be described and checked, on the other hand, is the naming system, design principle, electrification system and the features you can verify yourself on the platform.
What electrification system does the Type 74 use?
15 kV at 16.7 Hz, the same AC system as in Germany, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland. That's why European vehicle families can be used in Norway without fundamental changes to their traction technology.
What should I photograph for a sighting?
The marking with type and running number, plus a side view in which the car sections and bogies can be counted. For coupled units, both numbers. These three pictures turn an observation into a verifiable sighting – even if you only do the identification at home.
Do operator and area of operation change?
Regularly. Service contracts are put out to tender, routes are redrawn, vehicles re-lettered. That's why this page names no fixed lines or operator assignments. Check the current situation before your trip and, when logging a sighting, note what lettering the vehicle actually carried.
Log your sighting of the Vy BM74 (Stadler FLIRT)
Date, location and vehicle number logged in seconds – and visible to the community.
Related classes
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The BM75 is a Norwegian FLIRT for regional services. This page shows how to identify it and what a spotting trip to Norway really requires.
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EMUVy BM72 (Talent)
The BM72 is Norway's electric Talent. If you know the Talent family from Germany, you'll recognise it straight away – despite a different designation and different colours.
Who is behind it
Groups, brands, manufacturers and operators – who owns whom and how to recognise them out in the field.
Where to see the Vy BM74 (Stadler FLIRT)
Specific viewpoints with lighting times, coordinates and an honest verdict on whether the trip is worth it.
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