ROLLING STOCK
more effi cient and having one powered vehicle per train was more cost effective, he explained.
The whole project offered both the ROSCO and
an “opportunity to extend life expectancy, and meet the conundrum of capacity”.
Design freedom
In terms of engineering, the trains have undergone a re-traction and refresh, and will be back in service by December this year. The parts are manufactured in Sweden, assembled in Ilford, tested by Bombardier in Derby and put through non- passenger testing with Network Rail before operation on the network.
Adams told RTM: “If you look at the key systems on the vehicle, traction is probably the biggest single system – if we can deal with that then you’re dealing with the core of the issue straight away.
“From a reliability perspective and an effi ciency perspective, it’s then what you do about the other sub- systems, braking improvements, and the work we’re doing alongside the refresh, potentially the door systems.”
The lifetime extension it provides makes re-traction worthwhile, although it could take into the 2020s to justify. It is “very likely” to be rolled out across the whole fl eet, Angel Trains said.
The Achilles heel
DC motors have been replaced by AC and regenerative braking introduced. The PMS underframe was reconfi gured to accommodate a double pair arrangement of fi lter box and converter boxes.
Tribley said that traction was the Achilles’ heel of the unit, and the new upgrade was a “logical extension” of previous work to increase capacity and maintain services in harsh weather conditions.
The AC motor will make the fl eet Adams said there was “most
defi nitely” scope for more use of the design and development approach in upgrading rolling stock. “There’s a whole generation of rolling stock that’s a similar age to the Class 317s, potentially there’s a market there.”
Interior improvements will provide an ‘as-new’ feel for several years, with separate parts upgraded and replaced as necessary.
Unless there was a “step change” in either technology or political will, there may not be as much need to procure new rolling stock, RTM heard.
Big projects such as IEP, Thameslink and Crossrail, and electrifi cation are also set to free up capacity which will allow engineering work on other fl eets, improving them in similar ways. Such an approach could have signifi cant value compared to purchasing new trains.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.angeltrains.co.uk www.bombardier.com
rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 13 | 67
Helping the industry to meet capacity is challenging, Angel Trains accepted. But this project was one of “a few rare chances” to design and develop trains without a complete brief from an operator or for a specifi c purpose.
Bombardier
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