Alstom Transport attended the largest railway event of the year: Innotrans 2010. On this occasion, the French manufacturer showcased its latest innovations in terms of railway technology. Alstom, one of the largest leaders on the high-speed and urban rail transport market, took this opportunity to promote its products even for other markets, where the company’s position is not very much consolidated, such as the locomotive market or the railway application software market. Alstom wanted to prove that the new offer is as competitive as its well-known high-speed units or the Citadis trams. The new offer includes innovative electric locomotives and the PACIS and TRAINTRACER systems.
Alstom’s exhibition stand attracted many visitors. This year’s exhibit was structured on the principle of business communication and networking. Company experts wanted to promote the new offer as the best solution in terms of eco-friendly technology which ensures sustainable development. The products showcased included the well-known Citadis trams, the Metropolis underground train and the AGV high-speed train.
This year, the company aimed at promoting the products specially designed for customers who want cheaper locomotives. To that end, Alstom showcased the new locomotive platforms, Prima II and the new electric locomotive designed for the Russian market. Another target segment was represented by the customers who seek software solutions for efficient traffic management, reduced consumption or for rolling stock and/or signalling system exploitation etc. Similar solutions showcased at Berlin included the PACIS Demonstrator system, which provides information about passenger safety; Harmonic and Energy Saving Optimiser (HESOP), which uses the recuperative braking from trams or metro cars and transfers it back to the fuel supply systems; URBALIS, which is designed for urban transport traffic management; TRAINTRACER, a package of solutions which improve the management of operational fleets.
Alstom has high ambitions for the locomotive market
Alstom hopes that the new locomotive platforms will enjoy the same success as Citadis or TGV. The manufacturer showcased the EP20 electric locomotives, designed in collaboration with its Russian partner, Transmashholding (TMH). The new electric locomotive is designed for the CIS market, just like the new Prima II, which will hopefully exceed the success of the first generation of Alstom freight locomotives. Both locomotives are equipped with energy saving systems. The materials used are recyclable (over 80%) and they incorporate composite materials or other eco-friendly components. The Prima II on-board simulator is the only system that can fully recreate the experience of driving a real locomotive; the equipment used for the simulator is identical with the equipment used on a real locomotive. This facilitates the transfer made by an engine driver from the simulator to the actual locomotive.
At Innotrans 2010 Alstom also exhibited innovations in terms of bogies. The new set of bogies used on the Prima II locomotive provide the possibility of making tight turns, thus increasing the operational speed. The new Ixege equipment used on trams or light-rail allow a high-performance running. They are compatible with the High Speed Urban Rail System, which is currently at high demand on the international market. During the trial runs made in Poland, the trams equipped with Ixege reached a speed of 125 km/h. Ixege is designed for very low-floor trams and they facilitate the use of trams on an infrastructure which doesn’t normally allow the operation of low-floor trams. The suspensions used for the Ixege systems reduce vibrations and allow a more efficient interior design, seeing as the bogies take up less space. Alstom also showcased the new highs-speed platform for suburban and regional transport: CORADIA Polyvalent. This new model is based on the innovations used in the Pendolino and AGV series, ATLAS solutions compatible with ERTMS (which is installed on railways around the world), Appitrack system (for automatic track positions and other rail infrastructure related operations), APS system (ground-level power supply).
by Alin Lupulescu
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