Alstom has launched lifecycle tests for its advanced concrete slab track technology in Russia. The Russian Railways initiated the tests on 15 November in their facilities in Sherbinka near Moscow in the presence of Valentin Gapanovich, Senior Vice-President of the Russian Railways. The project includes the assessment of various slab tracks and their testing in local conditions, with a view to potentially implementing this cutting-edge technology on the very high speed lines in the future.
Alstom in cooperation with Roszheldorproekt design institute, Vossloh, Pandrol/Railtech and Lafarge Russia has built a 125-metre-long slab track section including 2 transition zones of 25 meters each, using its NBT technology. The main advantages of NBT are its mechanised construction method, as well as its high availability and compatibility with mixed traffic operation, passenger and freight.
During the first testing phase the Russian Railways research centre VNIIZhT will run a loaded train along the section at 80 km/h. The most stable and available slab track solutions will be proposed for the next testing phase on a longer section at high and very high speeds. It is expected that, by 2016, the tracks will be able to carry up to 600 million tonnes.
http://www.alstom.com
Share on:
