Alstom develops intelligent train components
Alstom is focusing on developing intelligent components to enhance train efficiency and passenger comfort. The company is leveraging significant R&D investments and collaborations in its solutions.
At the heart of every train lie essential systems designed and manufactured by Alstom. The company has increased its research and development (R&D) investments and collaborations with clients, academic institutions, and industry partners to improve these components.
Bart Vantorre, Alstom's Vice President for Components, stated that incorporating smarter components enhances the overall performance of trains. "Our advanced solutions and scalable improvements enable the construction of rolling stock that is more efficient, sustainable, easier to operate and maintain, and more comfortable for our passengers," Vantorre said. The company's intelligent component strategy rests on three pillars: intelligent design, smart technologies, and smart passenger solutions.
Intelligently designed components aim to optimize life cycle costs by reducing the size and weight of mechanical products, for example. They also improve operation and maintenance through safe and reliable train control systems, and passenger flow with modular train interiors.
For instance, Alstom's Flexx Eco™ bogie features an inverted conventional design. This smart engineering results in a narrower bogie, with the wheels positioned outside the frame. This solution reduces weight and makes the bogie more compact, optimizing total cost of ownership through lower energy consumption and reduced repair costs, explained Heiko Mannsbarth, Director of Bogies, Engines, and Generators at Alstom.