The New Pendolino Family: Higher Acoustic Comfort and Reduced Environment Impact

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The New Pendolino Family: Higher Acoustic Comfort and Reduced Environment Impact The New Pendolino family: higher acoustic comfort and reduced environment impact N. Manzi1– D. Miranda2 1ALSTOM Ferroviaria Acoustics & Aerodynamics Responsible, Savigliano, Italy, 2ALSTOM Ferroviaria Design Platform Not Articulated Train Responsible, Savigliano, Italy Abstract ALSTOM is developing a new generation of tilting trains. During the design stage of these trains, special attention is given to the acoustic comfort and the environmental impact. Thus, acoustic signature is a key parame ter in designing the new Pendolino. From the experience obtained from the previous version of tilting trains, it is known that the main component of noise, when the trains are operated at high speed, is generated by the aerodynamic effects. This component has an important contribution to the noise level inside the car and on the environmental impact. Up to now, the aero -acoustic noise has been controlled through the aerodynamic optimisation of the train shape. For the New Pendolino project, a new methodolo gy of analysis has been developed in order to be able to evaluate the impact of the retained train design not only from a qualitative point of view but also from quantitative point of view. Thus, this methodology does not only give the localization of sour ces but does also quantify the main aero -acoustic sources and also does give an evaluation of the contribution of aero -acoustic noise sources on the noise level inside the car as the environmental impact of the train. The aero-acoustic prediction of noise level is based on a combination of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) numerical models and physical tests on scaled mock -ups in wind tunnel. The geometrical models at scale 1:5 and at full -scale for the CFD calculations is obtained from the 3D CATIA model of the train, used for structural design. The geometrical scale 1:5 model is used also to produce the mock -up at scale 1:5 for test in the wind tunnel. The comparison of the analytical results and the experimental measurements carried out with the mock -up at scale 1:5 demonstrates that reliable CFD calculations with the full -scale model can be obtained and thus the influence of the aero - acoustic sources on the inside and outside noise can be quantified. 1 Introduction The problem of the noise generation duri ng the running of the train is a difficult design aspect to face during the development of a new project, especially when the train can run at 250km/h or more. The noise generated during the train movement is radiated outside, with an environment impact on persons and things near the line, and transmitted inside with an impact in terms of passenger comfort and crew health. For the driver point of view the noise impact has an importance in term of safety being important to limit the noise tiredness effects that can prejudice the necessary level of the attention during the work. 1 2 Aerodynamic noise of rolling stocks The noise problem for the railway transport is separated in two parts according to its impact on people. These two parts are defined in external an d internal noise. The noise produced by the railway vehicles is due to the numerous noise sources present inside and outside. These sources can be divided in three different categories: - equipments (traction and auxiliary); - rolling (noise generated by the wheel/rail contact); - aerodynamic sources. Such noise sources have a different contribution on the internal and the external noise and change also with the train speed. During the starting and at low train speeds the main source are the equipments, after t he rolling noise becomes the principal, at speed of around 200 km/h the aerodynamic noise becomes the dominant. In the Figure 1 there is a typical example of variation of the sound pressure level with train speed. Figure 1: Typical variation of the sound pressure level with the train speed. The noise control in the development of a new project due to the equipments and the rolling have an important role on the noise produced by the roll ing stock, but today such sources are more simple to manage than the aero -acoustic sources. For this reason Alstom is working to develop a new methodology to control these particularly sources. Based on previous experiences it was possible select and loca te the principal aerodynamic sources produced on the train and test their influence on the internal and external noise. Figure 2 shows the result of a noise simulation of external noise produced by train with distributed power like Pendolino. Such calculation was validated with experimental pass - by of the train on the Italian high speed line “Direttissima” that connect Florence Rome. The measurement and calculation was carried out at a distance of 7.5m from the centre line of the track. The simulation allows to separate the contribution of the different typical sources. The fine continuous curve represent the rolling noise contribution. The main peaks are present in correspondence with the bogies passage. 2 The squares r epresent the equipment contribution. In this case the main equipments are located near the motor bogie (gearbox and traction motor). The circles represent the aero -acoustic sources contribution. In particularly such sources are located in: o The train head and first bogie where there is the first noise peak o The intermediate bogies and gangway, sequence of peak after the passage of the nose and before the passage of the last vehicle o The pantograph area (at the end of head vehicle). Its contribution is present at the beginning of the passage of end vehicle. o The train tail where there is the last important peak. The thick curve represents the sum of all the previous contributions. Pa -5 LpA dB(A) re 2*10 3 4 5 6 7 8 Time [s] Rolling Rolling Traction equipments Rolling Traction equipments Aero-acoustic Traction equipments Rolling Aero-acoustic Total Rolling Equipments Aero-acoustic Figure 2: Pass-by at 7.5m from the centre line of the track – 250km/h of train speed. The example clearly demonstrated the importance of the aerodynamic sources for the exterior noise, especially when the maximum sound pressure level is an important design target (LpAFmax). As anticipated the noise of aero dynamic origin has an important contribution also inside the train. This is particularly evident on train with distributed power where the passenger compartment are present also in the leading vehicle and close to the driver’s cab. An example of aero -acoustic contribution inside the passenger compartment is presented in Figure 3 which shows the sound pressure level spectra measured in the same position of passenger compartment when the vehicle is the leading one an d when it is the last one. The noise measured when the vehicle is in the leading position is higher than the noise measured when it is at the end of the convoy. This is due to the different contribution of the aerodynamic sources, more important when the v ehicle is in the leading position. 3 Pa -5 LpA dB(A) re 2 10 Leading vehicle End vehicle Frequency - 1/3 octave band [Hz] Figure 3: Sound pressure level spectra measured in the same position in the passenger compartmet when the vehicle is the leading and when it is the end. These simple considerations confirm the importance of the aero -acoustic sources for a train with distributed power like the Pendolino. The origin of the aerodynamic noise is based mainly on the following phenomena: - Flow detachment on the vehicle surfaces with the generation of macro vortex (narrow band component normally at low frequencies); - Turbulent boundary layer (broad band in the range of the medium and high frequencies); - Cavity effects. In principle a good streamline shape of the train is a condition necessary for a low aero - acoustic noise level. Normally to evaluate the aerodynamic behaviour of a train, wind tunnel tests with scale models were carried out. This method has some limitations in term of geometrical detail, mock-up scale factor, Reynolds number and extrapolation of the res ults to the real vehicle (scale 1:1). When the aim of the test is the measurement of aero -acoustic sources an anechoic or a quasi -anechoic wind tunnel is necessary. In the last 10 years numerical simulations CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) have gained consideration in the evaluation of the aerodynamic behaviour of the vehicles. Special tools have been developed to study the aero -acoustic phenomena. These tools are able to consider a very detailed geometry of the vehicle and thanks to the fast parallel CPUs they are able to carry out the aero -acoustic simulation in a reasonable time. For the development of the new Pendolino family, Alstom decided to use both methods, test in wind tunnel and CFD calculation, in order to define a methodology to evaluate and localize the main aero -acoustic source on the train. 3 Project procedure in ALSTOM Ferroviaria In order to obtain reliable aero -acoustic calculations Alstom settled an experimental - numerical procedure that permits to obtain simulations of the aero -acoustic behaviour of a new conception train. 4 Preparation of the 3D CATIA Phase (1) model of the vehicles Validation of the numerical CFD model in Phase (2) scale 1:5 Guide line to the preparation of the geometry and calculation set-up for the full scale model CFD calculation with the real geometry of Phase (3) the vehicles Internal and external noise prediction Phase (4) The procedure consists in the following four phases: - Phase 1 – Preparation of the vehicles geometry - Phase 2 – Numerical model validation in scale 1:5 - Phase 3 – CFD calculation with the real geometry of the vehicl e in scale 1:1 - Phase 4 – Noise predictions 3.1 Preparation of the vehicles geometry – Phase 1 This phase consists on the preparation of the geometry necessary to realize the physical model in scale 1:5 to be used in the wind tunnel and the mathematical models in scale 1:5 (Figure 4) and 1:1 (Figure 5) for the CFD calculations (phase 3).
Recommended publications
  • Pioneering the Application of High Speed Rail Express Trainsets in the United States
    Parsons Brinckerhoff 2010 William Barclay Parsons Fellowship Monograph 26 Pioneering the Application of High Speed Rail Express Trainsets in the United States Fellow: Francis P. Banko Professional Associate Principal Project Manager Lead Investigator: Jackson H. Xue Rail Vehicle Engineer December 2012 136763_Cover.indd 1 3/22/13 7:38 AM 136763_Cover.indd 1 3/22/13 7:38 AM Parsons Brinckerhoff 2010 William Barclay Parsons Fellowship Monograph 26 Pioneering the Application of High Speed Rail Express Trainsets in the United States Fellow: Francis P. Banko Professional Associate Principal Project Manager Lead Investigator: Jackson H. Xue Rail Vehicle Engineer December 2012 First Printing 2013 Copyright © 2013, Parsons Brinckerhoff Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, mechanical (including photocopying), recording, taping, or information or retrieval systems—without permission of the pub- lisher. Published by: Parsons Brinckerhoff Group Inc. One Penn Plaza New York, New York 10119 Graphics Database: V212 CONTENTS FOREWORD XV PREFACE XVII PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH 3 1.1 Unprecedented Support for High Speed Rail in the U.S. ....................3 1.2 Pioneering the Application of High Speed Rail Express Trainsets in the U.S. .....4 1.3 Research Objectives . 6 1.4 William Barclay Parsons Fellowship Participants ...........................6 1.5 Host Manufacturers and Operators......................................7 1.6 A Snapshot in Time .................................................10 CHAPTER 2 HOST MANUFACTURERS AND OPERATORS, THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 11 2.1 Overview . 11 2.2 Introduction to Host HSR Manufacturers . 11 2.3 Introduction to Host HSR Operators and Regulatory Agencies .
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Pendolino High-Speed Rail on the Structure of Buildings Located in the Proximity of Railway Tracks
    Int. J. of Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2016, vol.21, No.1, pp.231-238 DOI: 10.1515/ijame-2016-0015 Technical note THE EFFECT OF PENDOLINO HIGH-SPEED RAIL ON THE STRUCTURE OF BUILDINGS LOCATED IN THE PROXIMITY OF RAILWAY TRACKS K. GRĘBOWSKI* and Z. ULMAN Department of Structural Mechanics Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Technical Bases of Architectural Design Faculty of Architecture Gdansk University of Technology ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, POLAND E-mails: [email protected]; [email protected] The following research focuses on the dynamic analysis of impact of the high-speed train induced vibrations on the structures located near railway tracks. The office complex chosen as the subject of calculations is located in the northern part of Poland, in Gdańsk, in the proximity of Pendolino, the high speed train route. The high speed trains are the response for the growing needs for a more efficient railway system. However, with a higher speed of the train, the railway induced vibrations might cause more harmful resonance in the structures of the nearby buildings. The damage severity depends on many factors such as the duration of said resonance and the presence of additional loads. The studies and analyses helped to determinate the method of evaluating the impact of railway induced vibrations on any building structure. The dynamic analysis presented in the research is an example of a method which allows an effective calculation of the impact of vibrations via SOFISTIK program. Key words: high-speed trains, FEM, dynamic analysis, railway tracks, structural damage.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Competitiveness in the Rail and Transit Industry
    Global Competitiveness in the Rail and Transit Industry Michael Renner and Gary Gardner Global Competitiveness in the Rail and Transit Industry Michael Renner and Gary Gardner September 2010 2 GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE RAIL AND TRANSIT INDUSTRY © 2010 Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C. Printed on paper that is 50 percent recycled, 30 percent post-consumer waste, process chlorine free. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Worldwatch Institute; of its directors, officers, or staff; or of its funding organizations. Editor: Lisa Mastny Designer: Lyle Rosbotham Table of Contents 3 Table of Contents Summary . 7 U.S. Rail and Transit in Context . 9 The Global Rail Market . 11 Selected National Experiences: Europe and East Asia . 16 Implications for the United States . 27 Endnotes . 30 Figures and Tables Figure 1. National Investment in Rail Infrastructure, Selected Countries, 2008 . 11 Figure 2. Leading Global Rail Equipment Manufacturers, Share of World Market, 2001 . 15 Figure 3. Leading Global Rail Equipment Manufacturers, by Sales, 2009 . 15 Table 1. Global Passenger and Freight Rail Market, by Region and Major Industry Segment, 2005–2007 Average . 12 Table 2. Annual Rolling Stock Markets by Region, Current and Projections to 2016 . 13 Table 3. Profiles of Major Rail Vehicle Manufacturers . 14 Table 4. Employment at Leading Rail Vehicle Manufacturing Companies . 15 Table 5. Estimate of Needed European Urban Rail Investments over a 20-Year Period . 17 Table 6. German Rail Manufacturing Industry Sales, 2006–2009 . 18 Table 7. Germany’s Annual Investments in Urban Mass Transit, 2009 . 19 Table 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Ground-Borne Vibration Measurements of High-Speed Trains
    Ground-Borne Vibration Measurement@ of High-Speed Trains David A. Towers and Hugh J. Saurenman Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc., 15 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803 USA Abstract: Ground-borne vibration measurements of high-speed train operations were carried out in France for the TGV (Nerd) and Eurostar trains, in Italy for the Pendolino ETR-450 trains and in Sweden for the X2000 trains. The results indicated a wide spread in the vibration data between the trainsets, and suggested that much of the difference is due to variations in the site geology rather than differences in suspension, axle load or wheel conditions of the trainsets. BACKGROUND Ground-borne vibration measurements ofhigh-speed train operations were carried out in Europe for the TGV (Nerd), Eurostar, Pendolino ETR-450 and X2~ trainsets. The objective of the measurements was to develop vibration- prediction models for a new guidance manual to be published by the U, S. Federal Railroad Administration on “High Speed Ground Transportation Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment.” The tests included measurements of ground- borne vibration at various distances from the track as well as an experimental method to characterize the ground vibration propagation characteristics at each measurement site (1). The propagation test procedure consists of dropping a weight on the ground and simultaneously measuring the impact force and the vibration pulses at various distances from the impact point. The transfer functions between the vibration pulses and the force impulse are then used to characterize vibration propagation. Assuming a linear system, these transfer functions define the relationship between any type of exciting force and the resulting ground vibration.
    [Show full text]
  • SPEEDLINES, HSIPR Committee, Issue
    High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail SPEEDLINES JULY 2017 ISSUE #21 2 CONTENTS SPEEDLINES MAGAZINE 3 HSIPR COMMITTEE CHAIR LETTER 5 APTA’S HS&IPR ROI STUDY Planes, trains, and automobiles may have carried us through the 7 VIRGINIA VIEW 20th century, but these days, the future buzz is magnetic levitation, autonomous vehicles, skytran, jet- 10 AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES packs, and zip lines that fit in a backpack. 15 MAGLEV » p.15 18 HYPERLOOP On the front cover: Futuristic visions of transport systems are unlikely to 20 SPOTLIGHT solve our current challenges, it’s always good to dream. Technology promises cleaner transportation systems for busy metropolitan cities where residents don’t have 21 CASCADE CORRIDOR much time to spend in traffic jams. 23 USDOT FUNDING TO CALTRAINS CHAIR: ANNA BARRY VICE CHAIR: AL ENGEL SECRETARY: JENNIFER BERGENER OFFICER AT LARGE: DAVID CAMERON 25 APTA’S 2017 HSIPR CONFERENCE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: PETER GERTLER EDITOR: WENDY WENNER PUBLISHER: AL ENGEL 29 LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: KENNETH SISLAK ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: ERIC PETERSON LAYOUT DESIGNER: WENDY WENNER 31 NY PENN STATION RENEWAL © 2011-2017 APTA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SPEEDLINES is published in cooperation with: 32 GATEWAY PROGRAM AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION 1300 I Street NW, Suite 1200 East Washington, DC 20005 35 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS “The purpose of SPEEDLINES is to keep our members and friends apprised of the high performance passenger rail envi- ronment by covering project and technology developments domestically and globally, along with policy/financing break- throughs. Opinions expressed represent the views of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of APTA nor its High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee.” 4 Dear HS&IPR Committee & Friends : I am pleased to continue to the newest issue of our Committee publication, the acclaimed SPEEDLINES.
    [Show full text]
  • High-Speed Ground Transportation Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment
    High-Speed Ground Transportation U.S. Department of Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Office of Railroad Policy and Development Washington, DC 20590 Final Report DOT/FRA/ORD-12/15 September 2012 NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Government, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the United States Government. The United States Government assumes no liability for the content or use of the material contained in this document. NOTICE The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the objective of this report. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.
    [Show full text]
  • The Economics of High Speed 2
    HOUSE OF LORDS Economic Affairs Committee 1st Report of Session 2014‒15 The Economics of High Speed 2 Ordered to be printed 10 March 2015 and published 25 March 2015 Published by the Authority of the House of Lords London : The Stationery Office Limited £price HL Paper 134 Select Committee on Economic Affairs The Economic Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Lords in each session “to consider economic affairs”. Membership The Members of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs are: Baroness Blackstone Lord Carrington of Fulham Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach Lord Hollick (Chairman) Lord Lawson of Blaby Lord May of Oxford Lord McFall of Alcluith Lord Monks Lord Rowe-Beddoe Lord Shipley Lord Skidelsky Lord Smith of Clifton Baroness Wheatcroft Declaration of interests See Appendix 1 A full list of Members’ interests can be found in the Register of Lords’ Interests: http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests Publications All publications of the Committee are available at: http://www.parliament.uk/hleconomicaffairs Parliament Live Live coverage of debates and public sessions of the Committee’s meetings are available at: http://www.parliamentlive.tv Further information Further information about the House of Lords and its Committees, including guidance to witnesses, details of current inquiries and forthcoming meetings is available at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords Committee staff The staff who worked on this inquiry were Robert Whiteway (Clerk), Ben McNamee (Policy Analyst), Stephanie Johnson (Committee Assistant) and Oswin Taylor (Committee Assistant). Contact details All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Economic Affairs Committee, Committee Office, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of High Speed 2 Dissenting Report by Lord Tony Berkeley House of Lords Former Deputy Chair of the Review Group Set up B
    A Review of High Speed 2 Dissenting Report by Lord Tony Berkeley House of Lords Former Deputy Chair of the Review Group set up by Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport in August 2019 5th January 2020 Review of High Speed 2 – Dissenting Report by Lord Tony Berkeley Page 1 Foreword By Tony Berkeley, former Deputy Chair of the Oakervee Review into HS2. In August 2019, the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, appointed Douglas Oakervee to lead a report into ‘whether and how we should proceed’ with HS2 Ltd. ahead of the Notice to Proceed’ decision for Phase 1 (London to West Midlands) due by the end of 2019. Douglas Oakervee appointed me as Deputy Chair with a panel of experts to feed into and be consulted on the report’s conclusions. These appointments terminated on 31 October 2019 before the drafting was complete. I and panel members were shown a copy of the then final draft report in early November but were not given any opportunity to request significant changes. I was not asked to sign it as Deputy Chair and informed the Chairman that I did not support its draft conclusions. I wrote to Douglas Oakervee listing my concerns, including a bias towards accepting HS2’s evidence in preference to those of others, leading to what I considered to be a critical but supportive recommendation for HS2 Ltd. to continue. I do not believe that the evidence that the Review received supports this view. (See my letter in Appendix 2). Parts of the draft Review were subsequently leaked to the media in November, but it is not known whether the text leaked was and is the final text, and when and whether it was as submitted by Doug Oakervee to the Secretary of State for Transport.
    [Show full text]
  • The French Train ~1 Grande Vitesse: Focusing on the TGV-Atlantique
    CaliforniaHigh Speed Rail Series The French Train ~1 Grande Vitesse: Focusing on the TGV-Atlantique Walter C. Streeter April 1992 Working Paper, No. 100 The University of California Transportation Center University of California Berkeley, CA94720 The University of California Transportation Center The University of California Center aclivilies. Researchers Transporlalion Center (UCTC) at other universities within is one of ten regional units the region also have opporlu- maudaled l)y Congress and nilies to collaborate on selec- established in Fall 1988 to led sludies. Currently facully supporl research, educalion, at California State University, and training in surface trans- Long Beach, and at Arizona portation. The l.IC Cenler State University, Tempe, are serves federal Region IX and active participants. is supported by matching grants from the U.S. Depart- UCTC’seducational and menl of Transportation, lhe research i)rograms are focused California State Department on strategic planning for of Transporlalion (Callrans). improving metropolitan and the University. accessibility, with emphasis on the special conditions in Based on the Berkeley Region IX. Parlicular attention Campus, UCTCdraws upon is directed to strategies for existing capabililies and using transportation as an resources of the Institutes of instrument of economic Transportation Studies at development, while also ac- Berkeley, Davis, and lrvine: commodating to the re- the Institute of Urban and gion’s persistent expansion Regional Development at and while maintaining and Berkeley; the Graduate enhancing lhe quality of School of Architecture and life there. Urban Planning at Los Angeles; and several aca- The Center distributes reports demic departments at the on its research in working Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, and papers, monographs, and in Los Angeles campuses.
    [Show full text]
  • Optimised Alternative
    Further written evidence from 51M (HSR 109B) This supplementary evidence is submitted to update the Committee on issues related to the “Optimised Alternative”, as described in Chapter 1 of our main submission, and to respond to the supplementary evidence submitted to the Committee by DfT and HS2 Ltd this week. Given the time constraints we have provided a detailed response on the Optimised Alternative and overview responses on a number of the issues raised in the DfT and HS2 Ltd supplementary evidence. We may provide a more detailed response to the Committee on certain items of the supplementary evidence in the near future. Optimised Alternative Neither DfT nor HS2 Ltd has made any attempt to engage with us directly on our proposed approach or the Optimised Alternative. DfT acknowledge that they have not carried out a full analysis of 51m’s alternative, despite its higher capacity and its lower capital costs than Atkins’ Rail Package 2. This is somewhat surprising since it has now been in the public domain for some 3 months. Below we respond to the statements made by DfT and HS2 Ltd in their supplementary evidence and the “Yes to High Speed Rail” campaign paper from William Barter, which purports to analyse the Optimised Alternative. • Both the DfT’s supplementary evidence and the William Barter paper assert that much of the 215% additional capacity set out in the Optimised Alternative doesn’t count, as any calculation of capacity increases should be based on the capacity after completion of the existing project to lengthen some of the current 52 Pendolino trains from 9 to 11 cars.
    [Show full text]
  • French Rail Excellence
    HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES FRENCH RAIL EXCELLENCE KEY INFO IN 10 POINTS WORLD-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE France is ranked eighth in the world by the Global 1 Competitiveness Report for the overall quality of its transport infrastructure, standing out in particular for the quality of its railways, for which it is ranked fifth. (World Economic Forum, 2017-2018) EUROPE’S #2 RAIL NETWORK With 28,364 km (17,625 miles) of railway lines in 2017, France’s rail network is the second largest in Europe, 2 after Germany (41,300 km / 25,660 miles) but ahead of Poland (19,132 km / 11,888 miles). (Eurostat) COMMITTED KEY PLAYERS Transport-related associations, company networks and innovation clusters in France include Mecateamcluster, 3 Neopolia Rail, AIF (Association of Railway Industries), Mipirail, FIF (Federation of Railway Industries), Fer de France, Railenium, and I-Trans, which has carried out more than a hundred projects since 2005 to develop rail transport. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE DRIVING SEAT In 2015, the NOTRe Act transferred various transport- 4 related decision-making powers from central to local government, while others, including those associated with rail travel, were passed up from the French départements to the regions. FRANCE INVESTS IN ITS RAILWAYS With €8.6 billion invested in 2015, France is ranked second 5 in Europe for investment in rail transport infrastructure after the United Kingdom (€14 billion) (OECD). In Lyon, more than one €1 billion will have been spent by 2020 on developing the city’s public transport network. Meanwhile, in Ile de France, the Grand Paris Express project plans to create an extra 200 km (125 miles) of metro tracks and 57 new stations.
    [Show full text]
  • Solutions for High-Speed Rail Proven SKF Technologies for Improved Reliability, Efficiency and Safety
    Solutions for high-speed rail Proven SKF technologies for improved reliability, efficiency and safety The Power of Knowledge Engineering Knowledge engineering capabilities 2 for high-speed rail. Today, high-speed trains, cruising at 300 km/h have Meet your challenges with SKF changed Europe’s geography, and distances between Rail transport is a high-tech growth industry. SKF has large cities are no longer counted in kilometres but rather a global leadership in high-speed railways through: in TGV, ICE, Eurostar or other train hours. The dark clouds of global warming threatening our planet are seen as rays • strong strategic partnership with global and local of sunshine to this most sustainable transport medium, customers with other continents and countries following the growth • system supplier of wheelset bearings and hous- ings equipped with sensors to detect operational path initiated by Europe and Japan. High-speed rail parameters represents the solution to sustainable mobility needs and • solutions for train control systems and online symbolises the future of passenger business. condition monitoring • drive system bearing solutions km 40 000 • dedicated test centre for endurance and homologa- tion testing 35 000 30 000 • technical innovations and knowledge 25 000 • local resources to offer the world rail industry best 20 000 customer service capabilities 15 000 10 000 5 000 0 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Expected evolution of the world high-speed network, source UIC 3 Historical development Speed has always been the essence of railways Speed Speed has been the essence of railways since the first steam (km/h) locomotive made its appearance in 1804.
    [Show full text]