ROLLING STOCK SPECIAL
A lot of people have been talking about the Velaro, the new ‘supertrain’ from Siemens. Rail Technology Magazine spoke to Steve Scrimshaw to find out what all the fuss was about.
T
he future of the rail industry depends on its ability to adapt and to innovate.
With a modern design adapted to fit dif- ferent operator requirements, the Velaro does both, according to managing director of Siemens Mobility’s rolling stock busi- ness, Steve Scrimshaw.
He explained: “At the end of the 1990s, Siemens took the revolutionary leap from traction equipment concentrated in one power car for ‘push-pull’ operation to dis- tributed traction technology in which the equipment is mounted under the floor and distributed over the entire length of the train.
“The first high-speed train based on a multiple-unit design was the ICE 3 for Deutsche Bahn. The Velaro is the evo- lution of the successful ICE 3 train and Velaro trains are now operating reliably in Spain, China and in Russia. The latest ver- sion, the Velaro D, will be put into revenue service between Germany and France in December 2011.”
Built for a top speed of up to 350kph (220mph), to say that the Velaro is fast is an understatement.
Scrimshaw said proudly: “The Velaro is the fastest series-produced train in the world, which is helping to make high-speed rail a credible alternative to air travel on short haul flights. For example, Velaro trains operating on the 621km (386 mile) high- speed line between Madrid and Barcelona are completing the journey in just 2 hrs 38
mins. Compared to conventional trains, travel time has been reduced by more than 2.5 hours. A further benefit of the Velaro train is increased accommodation and pas- senger comfort. There is around 20% more space for passengers in a Velaro compared with a conventional high-speed train of the same length.”
From the operator’s perspective, the train offers many benefits. It is the only high- speed train that can overcome slopes with a gradient of up to 4% and also runs reli- ably in temperatures ranging from 50°C right down to -40°C.
Scrimshaw added: “The uniform distribu- tion of weight reduces the weight acting on the individual axles and leads to less wear and tear not only on the rails but also on the wheels of the train. Velaro trains now operating in Spain, China and Russia are proving to be very reliable.
“For example, Velaro trains operating on the high-speed line between Madrid and Barcelona are operating at 99% availabil- ity. Since the Velaro entered revenue serv- ice, ridership on the Madrid – Barcelona route has increased from 11% to around 50% – at the expense of the airlines.”
Given the current focus on sustainability, it is essential that rolling stock performs in as green a way as possible, and Scrimshaw promises that it achieves this, too.
“The Velaro is the most environmentally friendly means of transport on the market
for long-range travel. On average, depend- ing on the traction current mix, a Velaro produces at least three times less CO2 per person-kilometre than an aircraft.
“The environmental compatibility of the Velaro platform is demonstrated by its low energy consumption, equivalent to only 0.33 litres of fuel per seat per 100km – just enough to fill a can of Coke.
“Enhanced aerodynamics play a major role here; in order to reduce energy con- sumption, the aerodynamic behaviour of the train has been successively improved by means of deflector panels fitted on roof- mounted devices as well as on bogies and inter-car gangways. Moreover, the electric brake system enables braking energy to be fed back directly into the power supply system, thus saving energy and costs.”
So how much scope is there within the de- sign to develop the Velaro further in the future?
“Velaro trains are based on a flexible plat- form design which can be readily adapted for operation in dif- ferent rail networks as well as for specific customer require- ments,” Scrimshaw concluded.
Steve Scrimshaw FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit
www.mobility.siemens.com/mobility/ en/pub/
rail_solutions.htm
rail technology magazine Feb/Mar 11 | 31
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